Windows Networking

Abstract

Windows NT has provided an excellent network operating system. It communicates directly with many different types of networks, protocols and computer architectures. Windows NT and Windows 95/98 have the great advantage over other operating systems that they have integrated network support. Operating systems now use networks to make peer-to-peer connections and also connections to servers for access to file systems and print servers. The three most used operating systems are MS-DOS, Microsoft Windows and UNIX. Microsoft Windows comes in many flavours; the main versions in current use are:

• Microsoft Windows 3.xx — 16-bit PC-based operating system with limited multitasking. It runs from MS-DOS and thus still uses MS-DOS functionality and file system structure.

• Microsoft Windows 95/98 — robust 32-bit multitasking operating system (although there are some 16-bit parts in it) which can run MS-DOS applications, Microsoft Windows 3.xx applications and 32-bit applications.

• Microsoft Windows NT/2000 — robust 32-bit multitasking operating systems with integrated networking. Networks are built with NT/2000 servers and clients. As with Microsoft Windows 95/98 they can run MS-DOS, Microsoft Windows 3.x applications and 32-bit applications.