Жергілікті желілерді басқаруға арналған компьютерлік бағдарламалар

Computer software for running local area networks
A network operating system (NOS) is a specialized operating system for a network device such as a router, switch or firewall. Historically operating systems with networking capabilities were described as network operating systems, because they allowed personal computers (PCs) to participate in computer networks and shared file and printer access within a local area network (LAN). This description of operating systems is now largely historical, as common operating systems include a network stack to support a client–server model.

Early microcomputer operating systems such as CP/M, MS DOS and classic Mac OS were designed for one user on one computer. Packet switching networks were developed to share hardware resources, such as a mainframe computer, a printer or a large and expensive hard disk. As local area network technology became available, two general approaches to handle sharing of resources on networks arose. Historically, a network operating system was an operating system for a computer which implemented network capabilities. Operating systems with a network stack allowed personal computers to participate in a client server architecture in which a server enables multiple clients to share resources, such as printers. Early examples of client server operating systems that were shipped with fully integrated network capabilities are Novell NetWare using the Internetwork Packet Exchange (IPX) network protocol and Banyan VINES which used a variant of the Xerox Network Systems (XNS) protocols. These limited client/server networks were gradually replaced by Peer to peer networks, which used networking capabilities to share resources and files located on a variety of computers of all sizes. A peer to peer network sets all connected computers equal; they all share the same abilities to use resources available on the network. The most popular peer to peer networks as of 2020 are Ethernet, Wi Fi and the Internet protocol suite. Software that allowed users to interact with these networks, despite a lack of networking support in the underlying manufacturer's operating system, was sometimes called a network operating system. Examples of such add on software include Phil Karn's KA9Q NOS (adding Internet support to CP/M and MS DOS), PC/TCP Packet Drivers (adding Ethernet and Internet support to MS DOS), and LANtastic (for MS DOS, Microsoft Windows and OS/2), and Windows for Workgroups (adding NetBIOS to Windows). Examples of early operating systems with peer to peer networking capabilities built in include MacOS (using AppleTalk and LocalTalk), and the Berkeley Software Distribution. Today, distributed computing and groupware applications have become the norm. Computer operating systems include a networking stack as a matter of course.

Network operating systems can be embedded in a router or hardware firewall that operates the functions in the network layer (layer 3). Notable network operating systems include: