Network operating system: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 06:26, 24 May 2026

Short description: 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.

Key functions

Network operating systems (NOS) are responsible for managing various network activities. Key functions include creating and managing user accounts, controlling access to resources such as files and printers, and facilitating communication between devices. Network operating systems also monitor network performance, addresses issues, and manages resources to ensure efficient and secure operation of the network.^[1]

History

Packet switching networks were developed to share hardware resources, such as a mainframe computer, a printer or a large and expensive hard disk.^[2]^: 318

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.^[3]^[4]^[5]

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.^[4]

Today, distributed computing and groupware applications have become the norm. Computer operating systems include a networking stack as a matter of course.^[2]^: 318 During the 1980s the need to integrate dissimilar computers with network capabilities grew and the number of networked devices grew rapidly. Partly because it allowed for multi-vendor interoperability, and could route packets globally rather than being restricted to a single building, the Internet protocol suite became almost universally adopted in network architectures. Thereafter, computer operating systems and the firmware of network devices tended to support Internet protocols.^[2]^: 305

Network device operating systems

Network operating systems can be embedded in a router or hardware firewall that operates the functions in the network layer (layer 3).^[6] Notable network operating systems include:

Proprietary network operating systems

Cisco IOS, a family of network operating systems used on Cisco Systems routers and network switches. (Earlier switches ran the Catalyst operating system, or CatOS)
RouterOS by MikroTik
ZyNOS, used in network devices made by ZyXEL

FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, and Linux-based operating systems

Cisco NX-OS, IOS XE, and IOS XR; families of network operating systems used across various Cisco Systems device including the Cisco Nexus and Cisco ASR platforms
Junos OS; a network operating system that runs on Juniper Networks platforms
Cumulus Linux distribution, which uses the full TCP/IP stack of Linux
DD-WRT, a Linux kernel-based firmware for wireless routers and access points as well as low-cost networking device platforms such as the Linksys WRT54G
Dell Networking Operating System; DNOS9 is NetBSD based, while OS10 uses the Linux kernel
Extensible Operating System runs on switches from Arista and uses an unmodified Linux kernel
ExtremeXOS (EXOS), used in network devices made by Extreme Networks
FTOS (Force10 Operating System), the firmware family used on Force10 Ethernet switches
IPFire, an open source firewall distribution
ONOS, an open source SDN operating system (hosted by Linux Foundation) for communications service providers that is designed for scalability, high performance and high availability.
OpenBSD, an open source operating system which includes its own implementations of BGP, RPKI, OSPF, MPLS, VXLAN, and other IETF standardized networking protocols, as well as firewall (PF) and load-balancing functionality.
OpenWrt used to route IP packets on embedded devices
pfSense, a fork of M0n0wall, which uses PF
OPNsense, a fork of pfSense
SONiC, a Linux-based network operating system developed by Microsoft
VyOS, an open source fork of the Vyatta routing package

References

↑ "What is a Network Operating System?". https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/what-is-a-network-operating-system/. Retrieved 2025-02-11.
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 McHoes, Ann; Flynn, Ida M. (2012). Understanding Operating Systems (6 ed.). CEngage Learning. ISBN 9781133417569.
↑ Dean, Tamara (2009). "Network Operating Systems". Network+ Guide to Networks. pp. 421, 483. ISBN 9781337569330.
↑ ^4.0 ^4.1 Winkelman, Roy (2009). "An Educator's Guide to School Networks". Florida Center for Instructional Technology, University of South Florida. 6: Software. http://fcit.usf.edu/network/chap6/chap6.htm.
↑ "Network Operating System". PC Magazine (Ziff Davis). 2011.
↑ Al-Shawakfa, Emad; Evens, Martha (2001). "The Dialoguer: An Interactive Bilingual Interface to a Network Operating System". Expert Systems 18 (3): 131.

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[1] "What is a Network Operating System?". https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/what-is-a-network-operating-system/. Retrieved 2025-02-11.

[McHoes_2012-2] 2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 McHoes, Ann; Flynn, Ida M. (2012). Understanding Operating Systems (6 ed.). CEngage Learning. ISBN 9781133417569.

[3] Dean, Tamara (2009). "Network Operating Systems". Network+ Guide to Networks. pp. 421, 483. ISBN 9781337569330.

[Winkelman_2009-4] 4.0 ^4.1 Winkelman, Roy (2009). "An Educator's Guide to School Networks". Florida Center for Instructional Technology, University of South Florida. 6: Software. http://fcit.usf.edu/network/chap6/chap6.htm.

[5] "Network Operating System". PC Magazine (Ziff Davis). 2011.

[6] Al-Shawakfa, Emad; Evens, Martha (2001). "The Dialoguer: An Interactive Bilingual Interface to a Network Operating System". Expert Systems 18 (3): 131.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{short description|Computer software for running local area networks}}
+{{Short description|Computer software for running local area networks}}
-A '''network operating system''' ('''NOS''') is a specialized [[Operating system|operating system]] for a network device such as a [[Engineering:Router (computing)|router]], [[Network switch|switch]] or [[Firewall (computing)|firewall]].
+{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
-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 [[Engineering:Local area network|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|client–server model]].
+A '''network operating system''' ('''NOS''') is a specialized [[Operating system|operating system]] for a network device such as a [[Engineering:Router (computing)|router]], [[Network switch|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 network|computer network]]s and [[Shared resource|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.
+==Key functions==
+Network operating systems (NOS) are responsible for managing various network activities. Key functions include creating and managing user accounts, controlling access to resources such as files and printers, and facilitating communication between devices. Network operating systems also monitor network performance, addresses issues, and manages resources to ensure efficient and secure operation of the network.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/what-is-a-network-operating-system/ |title=What is a Network Operating System? |website=GeeksforGeeks |accessdate=2025-02-11 |archive-date=January 6, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250106111836/https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/what-is-a-network-operating-system/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
 ==History==
-Early microcomputer operating systems such as CP/M, [[Software:MS-DOS|MS-DOS]] and [[Software:Classic Mac OS|classic Mac OS]] were designed for one user on one computer.{{citation needed|date=March 2019}} [[Packet switching]] networks were developed to share hardware resources, such as a [[Mainframe computer|mainframe computer]], a [[Engineering:Printer (computing)|printer]] or a large and expensive hard disk.<ref name="Understanding Operating Systems">{{cite book |title=Understanding Operating Systems |author1=Ann McHoes |author2=Ida M. Flynn |year=2012 |publisher=cengage Learning |isbn=9781133417569 | edition = 6| page=318 }}</ref> As local area network technology became available, two general approaches to handle sharing of resources on networks arose.{{citation needed|date=March 2019}}
+[[Packet switching]] networks were developed to share hardware resources, such as a [[Mainframe computer|mainframe computer]], a [[Engineering:Printer (computing)|printer]] or a large and expensive hard disk.<ref name="McHoes 2012">{{cite book |last1=McHoes |first1=Ann |last2=Flynn |first2=Ida M. |date=2012 |title=Understanding Operating Systems |publisher=CEngage Learning |isbn=9781133417569 |edition=6 }}</ref>{{Rp|318}}
-Historically a network operating system was an [[Operating system|operating system]] for a computer which implemented network capabilities. Operating systems with a network stack allowed personal computers to participate in a [[Client–server model|client-server architecture]] in which a [[Server (computing)|server]] enables multiple clients to share resources, such as [[Engineering:Printer (computing)|printers]].<ref name="autogenerated2">Dean, Tamara (2009). "Network Operating Systems", ''Network+ Guide to Networks'', 421(483)</ref><ref name="autogenerated3"/><ref name=":0">Davis, Ziff (2011). "network operating system", ''PCmag.com''Retrieved 5/7/2011.</ref> 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.{{citation needed|date=March 2019}}
+Historically, a network operating system was an [[Operating system|operating system]] for a computer which implemented network capabilities. Operating systems with a network stack allowed [[Engineering:Personal computer|personal computer]]s to participate in a [[Client–server model|client-server architecture]] in which a [[Server (computing)|server]] enables multiple clients to share resources, such as [[Engineering:Printer (computing)|printers]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Dean |first=Tamara |date=2009 |chapter=Network Operating Systems |title=Network+ Guide to Networks |isbn=9781337569330 |pages=421, 483 }}</ref><ref name="Winkelman 2009">{{cite web |last=Winkelman |first=Roy |date=2009 |at=6: Software |title=An Educator's Guide to School Networks |url=http://fcit.usf.edu/network/chap6/chap6.htm |website=FCIT.USF.edu |publisher=Florida Center for Instructional Technology, University of South Florida |access-date=December 23, 2024 |archive-date=January 12, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130112074457/http://fcit.usf.edu/network/chap6/chap6.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |date=2011 |title=Network Operating System |magazine=PC Magazine |publisher=Ziff Davis }}</ref>
-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.<ref name="autogenerated3">Winkelman, Dr. Roy (2009). "Chapter 6: Software", ''An Educator's Guide to School Networks'', 6.</ref>  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, [[Software:Microsoft Windows|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 [[Software:MacOS|MacOS]] (using [[AppleTalk]] and [[LocalTalk]]), and the [[Software:Berkeley Software Distribution|Berkeley Software Distribution]].{{citation needed|date=March 2019}}
+These limited client/server networks were gradually replaced by [[Peer-to-peer|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.<ref name="Winkelman 2009" />
-Today, [[Distributed computing|distributed computing]] and [[Groupware|groupware]] applications have become the norm. Computer operating systems include a networking stack as a matter of course.<ref name="Understanding Operating Systems"/> During the 1980s the need to integrate dissimilar computers with network capabilities grew and the number of networked devices grew rapidly. Partly because it allowed for multi-vendor [[Engineering:Interoperability|interoperability]], and could route packets globally rather than being restricted to a single building, the Internet protocol suite became almost universally adopted in network architectures. Thereafter, computer operating systems and the [[Firmware|firmware]] of network devices tended to support Internet protocols.<ref>{{cite book |title=Understanding Operating Systems |author1=Ann McHoes |author2=Ida M. Flynn |year=2012 |publisher=cengage Learning |isbn=9781133417569 | edition = 6| page=305 }}</ref>
+Today, [[Distributed computing|distributed computing]] and [[Groupware|groupware]] applications have become the norm. Computer operating systems include a networking stack as a matter of course.<ref name="McHoes 2012" />{{Rp|318}} During the 1980s the need to integrate dissimilar computers with network capabilities grew and the number of networked devices grew rapidly. Partly because it allowed for multi-vendor [[Engineering:Interoperability|interoperability]], and could route packets globally rather than being restricted to a single building, the Internet protocol suite became almost universally adopted in network architectures. Thereafter, computer operating systems and the [[Firmware|firmware]] of network devices tended to support Internet protocols.<ref name="McHoes 2012" />{{Rp|305}}
 ==Network device operating systems==
-Network operating systems can be embedded in a [[Engineering:Router (computing)|router]] or [[Firewall (computing)|hardware firewall]] that operates the functions in the [[Network layer|network layer]] ([[OSI model|layer 3]]).<ref name="expert">Al-Shawakfa, Emad; Evens, Martha (2001). "The Dialoguer: An Interactive Bilingual Interface to a Network Operating System.", ''Expert Systems'' Vol. 18 Issue 3, p131, 19p, Retrieved 5/7/2011.</ref> Notable network operating systems include:
+Network operating systems can be embedded in a [[Engineering:Router (computing)|router]] or [[Firewall (computing)|hardware firewall]] that operates the functions in the [[Network layer|network layer]] ([[OSI model|layer 3]]).<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Al-Shawakfa |first1=Emad |last2=Evens |first2=Martha |date=2001 |title=The Dialoguer: An Interactive Bilingual Interface to a Network Operating System |journal=Expert Systems |volume=18 |issue=3 |page=131 }}</ref> Notable network operating systems include:
 ===Proprietary network operating systems===
-*[[Software:Cisco IOS|Cisco IOS]], a family of network operating systems used on [[Company:Cisco Systems|Cisco Systems]] [[Engineering:Router (computing)|routers]] and [[Network switch|network switch]]es. (Earlier switches ran the Catalyst operating system, or [[Software:CatOS|CatOS]])
+* [[Software:Cisco IOS|Cisco IOS]], a family of network operating systems used on [[Company:Cisco Systems|Cisco Systems]] [[Engineering:Router (computing)|routers]] and [[Network switch|network switch]]es. (Earlier switches ran the Catalyst operating system, or [[Software:CatOS|CatOS]])
-*[[Company:MikroTik#RouterOS|RouterOS]] by [[Company:MikroTik|MikroTik]]
+* [[Company:MikroTik#RouterOS|RouterOS]] by [[Company:MikroTik|MikroTik]]
-*[[Software:ZyNOS|ZyNOS]], used in network devices made by ZyXEL
+* [[Software:ZyNOS|ZyNOS]], used in network devices made by ZyXEL
 === FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, and Linux-based operating systems ===
-*[[Software:Cisco NX-OS|Cisco NX-OS]], IOS XE, and IOS XR; families of network operating systems used across various Cisco Systems device including the [[Cisco Nexus switches|Cisco Nexus]] and [[Cisco ASR]] platforms
+* [[Software:Cisco NX-OS|Cisco NX-OS]], IOS XE, and IOS XR; families of network operating systems used across various Cisco Systems device including the [[Cisco Nexus switches|Cisco Nexus]] and [[Cisco ASR]] platforms
-*[[Software:Junos OS|Junos OS]]; a network operating system that runs on [[Company:Juniper Networks|Juniper Networks]] platforms
+* [[Software:Junos OS|Junos OS]]; a network operating system that runs on [[Company:Juniper Networks|Juniper Networks]] platforms
-*[[Company:Cumulus Networks#Products|Cumulus Linux]] distribution, which uses the full TCP/IP stack of Linux
+* [[Company:Cumulus Networks#Products|Cumulus Linux]] distribution, which uses the full TCP/IP stack of Linux
-*[[Software:DD-WRT|DD-WRT]], a Linux kernel-based firmware for wireless routers and access points as well as low-cost networking device platforms such as the [[Company:Linksys|Linksys]] [[Engineering:Linksys WRT54G series|WRT54G]]
+* [[Software:DD-WRT|DD-WRT]], a Linux kernel-based firmware for wireless routers and access points as well as low-cost networking device platforms such as the [[Company:Linksys|Linksys]] [[Engineering:Linksys WRT54G series|WRT54G]]
-*[[Dell Networking Operating System]]; DNOS9 is [[Software:NetBSD|NetBSD]] based, while OS10 uses the [[Software:Linux kernel|Linux kernel]]
+* [[Dell Networking Operating System]]; DNOS9 is [[Software:NetBSD|NetBSD]] based, while OS10 uses the [[Software:Linux kernel|Linux kernel]]
-*[[Software:Arista Networks#Extensible Operating System|Extensible Operating System]] runs on switches from [[Software:Arista Networks|Arista]] and uses an unmodified Linux kernel
+* [[Software:Arista Networks#Extensible Operating System|Extensible Operating System]] runs on switches from [[Software:Arista Networks|Arista]] and uses an unmodified Linux kernel
-*[[Software:ExtremeXOS|ExtremeXOS]] (EXOS), used in network devices made by [[Company:Extreme Networks|Extreme Networks]]
+* [[Software:ExtremeXOS|ExtremeXOS]] (EXOS), used in network devices made by [[Company:Extreme Networks|Extreme Networks]]
-*[[FTOS]] (Force10 Operating System), the [[Firmware|firmware]] family used on [[Company:Force10|Force10]] Ethernet switches
+* [[FTOS]] (Force10 Operating System), the [[Firmware|firmware]] family used on [[Company:Force10|Force10]] Ethernet switches
-*[[Company:ONOS|ONOS]], an open source [[Software-defined networking|SDN]] operating system (hosted by Linux Foundation) for communications service providers that is designed for scalability, high performance and high availability.
+* [[IPFire]], an open source firewall distribution
-*[[Organization:OpenBSD|OpenBSD]], an open source operating system which includes its own implementations of [[Border Gateway Protocol|BGP]], [[Resource Public Key Infrastructure|RPKI]], [[Open Shortest Path First|OSPF]], [[Multiprotocol Label Switching|MPLS]], VXLAN, and other [[IETF]] standardized networking protocols, as well as firewall ([[Software:PF (firewall)|PF]]) and [[Load balancing (computing)|load-balancing]] functionality.
+* [[Company:ONOS|ONOS]], an open source [[Software-defined networking|SDN]] operating system (hosted by Linux Foundation) for communications service providers that is designed for scalability, high performance and high availability.
-*[[Software:OpenWrt|OpenWrt]] used to route [[Internet Protocol|IP packet]]s on embedded devices
+* [[Software:OpenBSD|OpenBSD]], an open source operating system which includes its own implementations of [[Border Gateway Protocol|BGP]], [[Resource Public Key Infrastructure|RPKI]], [[Open Shortest Path First|OSPF]], [[Multiprotocol Label Switching|MPLS]], VXLAN, and other [[IETF]] standardized networking protocols, as well as firewall ([[Software:PF (firewall)|PF]]) and [[Load balancing (computing)|load-balancing]] functionality.
-*[[Software:PfSense|pfSense]], a fork of [[Software:M0n0wall|M0n0wall]], which uses [[Software:PF (firewall)|PF]]
+* [[Software:OpenWrt|OpenWrt]] used to route [[Internet Protocol|IP packet]]s on embedded devices
-*[[Software:OPNsense|OPNsense]], a fork of pfSense
+* [[Software:PfSense|pfSense]], a fork of [[Software:M0n0wall|M0n0wall]], which uses [[Software:PF (firewall)|PF]]
-*[[Software:SONiC (operating system)|SONiC]], a Linux-based network operating system developed by [[Company:Microsoft|Microsoft]]
+* [[Software:OPNsense|OPNsense]], a fork of pfSense
-*[[Software:VyOS|VyOS]], an open source fork of the Vyatta routing package
+* [[Software:SONiC (operating system)|SONiC]], a Linux-based network operating system developed by [[Company:Microsoft|Microsoft]]
+* [[Software:VyOS|VyOS]], an open source fork of the Vyatta routing package
 ==See also==
-*[[Distributed operating system]]
+* [[Distributed operating system]]
-*[[Software:FRRouting|FRRouting]]
+* [[Software:FRRouting|FRRouting]]
-*Network Computer Operating System
+* [[Interruptible operating system]]
-*Network functions virtualization
+* Network Computer Operating System
-*[[Software:Operating System Projects|Operating System Projects]]
+* Network functions virtualization
-*[[Interruptible operating system]]
+* [[Software:Operating System Projects|Operating System Projects]]
-*[[Software:SONiC (operating system)|SONiC (operating system)]]
+* [[Software:SONiC (operating system)|SONiC (operating system)]]
 ==References==
 {{Reflist}}
-==External links==
+{{Network operating systems}}
-*[http://fcit.usf.edu/network/chap6/chap6.htm Chapter 6 of Dr. Roy Winkelman's guide to networks]
 {{Operating system}}
-{{DEFAULTSORT:Network Operating System}}
 [[Category:Network operating systems| ]]
+[[Category:Internet Protocol based network software]]
 [[Category:Operating systems]]
-[[Category:Internet Protocol based network software]]
 {{Sourceattribution|Network operating system}}

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