1. NETWORK SOFTWARES & APPLICATIONS

2. OPERATING SYSTEMS SOFTWARE PACKAGES PROTOCOLS Windows NT 3.5/4.0 Novell NetWare 3.x/4.x Wollongong Pathway Access Windows 2000 Client, Personal NetWare Sun Microsystems PC-NFS Windows 98NetWare IPX/SPXBanyan VINES Windows 95/OSR2 Microsoft LAN Manager FTP PC/TCP Windows for Workgroups 3.11 Artisoft LANtasticTCP/IP (WFW 3.11)IBM LAN Sup-portPacket Driver

3. Novell Netware Netware version 3.12, Internetware version 4.11, Netware for Small Business version 4.11, Netware 5, and their latest offering Netware version 6. Novell uses Netware Directory Services (NDS) which is a much better system for managing a large network with multiple servers and numerous work- groups.

4. Novell Netware Novell can operate with somewhat less powerful server hardware than Windows 2000 requires. Novell, in general, is more stable and reliable. It is not unusual for many servers have been up for years without needing to be re-booted.

5. Novell NetWare A powerful 32-bit network operating system that integrates diverse computing systems into a single enterprise-wide network system. NetWare supports all key desktop operations -- DOS, Windows, OS/2, UNIX, and Macintosh -- allowing them to interoperate on the network.

6. Windows NT Windows NT originally stood for "new technology", although the acronym has become a trademark in itself. Multiprocessor Support Multiplatform support Familiar Desktop Support for many protocols

7. Advantages of using a network Shared Data Shared Software Shared hardware resources Reliability Expandibility Control

8. Advantages of using a network Shared software Licensed software for standard applications such as spreadsheets and databases is very expensive. A network license allows multiple copies of an application to be used for a fixed number of users at one time.

9. Advantages of using a network Shared Data Data can be stored centrally and accessed by all users. Data can also be transferred from one user to another.

10. Advantages of using a network Reliability Its speed is unaffected by the number of users. Each computer is independent and processes all of its own work. A networked system is less dependent on the performance of a single computer. Even if the server fails, users can continue to work, using each computer’s own local resources.

11. Advantages of using a network Shared hardware resources Computer peripherals such as printers, scanners,CD-ROM drives and modems can be shared over the network. This saves money and ensures maximum utilisation of the resources.

12. Advantages of using a network Communications Networks allow users to contact each other easily using e-mail facilities.

13. Advantages of using a network Expandibility It is cheaper to expand a network. When more users are needed, extra computers can simply be plugged into the existing wiring.

14. Advantages of using a network Control Since many of the facilities of a network is based on the server, management and control of computer use are simplified. Software management and support are simpler, because everyone uses the same packages and the same versions.

15. Advantages of using a network Control Upgradation and change are easier. The network manager can use passwords and rights that can specify which programs, data and hardware are available to each user.