Definition: NOS (Network operating system): The system software of a local area network (LAN) that integrates the network's hardware components, usually adequate for connecting up to 50 workstions. Included, typically, are such features as a menu-driven administration interface, tape backup of file-server software, security restrictions, facilities for sharing printers, central storage of application programs and databases, remote log-in via modem, and support for discuss workstations. A network operating system establishes and maintains the connetion between the workstations and the file server; the physical connections alone aren't sufficient to support networking. The operating system consists of two parts: the file server software and workstation software. See LAN memory management program, and NetWare.
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Source: QUECID / Linux Dictionary V 0.16
http://www.tldp.org/LDP/Linux-Dictionary/html/index.html
Author: Binh Nguyen linuxfilesystem(at)yahoo(dot)com(dot)au
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