Technology Essay Introduction Example For Students

Technology Essay Introduction Technology PaperIntroductionWhen mainframe and minicomputers providedthe backbone of business computing, there were essentially networked environmentsin the sense that dumb terminals shared access to a single processor(the minicomputer or mainframe), printer (or printers) and other peripheraldevices. Files could be shared among users because they were storedon the same machine. Electrical and operational connections wereavailable in common and shared applications, and implementation of newhardware, software and users was a simple task so long as a single vendorwas used. With the proliferation of microcomputers in the businessenvironment, information became distributed, located on the various harddrives attached to personal computers in an office, and difficult for otherusers to access. Today, network systems which connect disparate hardware,software and peripherals are commonplace, but the communication programwhich makes using these systems has not kept up with the demand for suchen vironments, although a number of companies are now participating in thefield. This research considers two of the most popular network operatingsystems (NOS), NetWare by Novell and Windows NT by Microsoft, and considerswhich is appropriate for business applications. Network Operating SystemsOperating systems are the interface betweenindividual programs and the user. Through the operating system, theuser is able to name files, move them and otherwise manipulate them, andissue commands to the computer as to what the user wants to do. Networkoperating systems are similar to this, but exist (as the name implies)in the network environment. Thus a network operating system is usedto issue commands to shared devices, and to provide a background againstwhich scarce resources are divided among competing users. Ideally,the network operating system is transparent to the user, who is only awareof the ability to share information and resources. An efficient NOScan make the difference between a productive and an unproductive office,and between workers who are difficult to replace when they leave and thosewho are likely to be familiar with the NOS of choice. Despite their importance, network operatingsystems have faced challenges in the market because of the diverse hardwarerequirements that they must meet. Because of this, several differentoperating systems have been developed, some of which run in place of traditional(single-user) operating systems, and some of which run in addition to thesesystems. OS/2, for example, provides a multi-user environment withoutrequiring a separate operating system. NOS development gained widespread acceptancewhen companies such as Artisoft (which manufactures Lantastic) introducedclient software which worked with a variety of servers. This madesoftware manufactured by companies such as Novell (which required specialclient-side networking software) vulnerable, and Microsofts Windows 95quickly became the client software of choice in the market (although notalways among analysts) when it was introduced since it can interface witha number of different server systems with complete transparency to theuser. This is the same concept used to develop OS/2 Warp Connect. Comparison CriteriaBecause of the current state of the market,having 32-bit capability is a requirement in most network environments. The various NOS alternatives need to offer a strong file and print base,since that is how most users access and use the networks. Applicationservices, which includes the ability to run messaging, database, and otherserver-based applications efficiently in a client/server network is anessential requirement of most modern networks. Multiprocessor supportis an essential component, as is fault tolerance, high-quality developmenttools, and application support from third-party vendors. Hardware integration is also a key issuesince the NOS should be able to run on hardware which is readily availableat reasonable rates, and which is likely to continue to be available inthe future. Both the type of processor and the ability to use morethan one processor are important considerations in this regard. Arelated issue is the networking infrastructure, which includes the easeof use of the network transfer protocols and how well the server softwareprocesses multiple LAN adapters and internal routing. Should the united states end drug prohibition EssayWindows NTWhen it comes to application services,Windows NT Server offers strong support for multiple as well as non-Intelprocessors along with abundant APIs, and applications from third-partyapplication vendors. In addition, Windows NT uses a domain namingand security setup. Similar to the naming service offered by Novell,the domain system gives users easy access to the network, but only afteran exchange of verification information takes place between domain serversthat trust each other. Windows NT servers are make using theInternet Protocol (IP) easier than NetWare does; IP carries the favoritesorting tags of the powerful Internet working routers, while NetWare IPXdoes not convey all of the routing information of IP. The situationhas improved, however, now that NetWare provides NetWare/IP. RecognizingNovells strong presence in the NOS market, Microsoft has also adoptedNovells network transport protocol, IPX/SPX, yielding software flexibilityon servers and extended options in extensions to the network. Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.51 offersa combination of good file and print capabilities, excellent applicationservices, and optional messaging, database, mainframe connectivity, andmanagement applications contained in Microsofts BackOffice applicationssuite. The products that make up Microsoft BackOffice integrate wellwith one another and with the Windows NT Server to provide many of thefunctions a network operating environment needs. However, Windows NT Server lacks powerfulnaming services. Windows NT Servers naming services are based on domains,each of which can contain only one defined organization. It is possibleto link domains so that users in one domain can easily access the filesand services of another. However, the process of setting up and managingthese links is more complex and cumbersome than working with NetWare. ConclusionBecause of the way in which network operatingsystems are currently written, and because of the strengths and weaknessesof NetWare and Windows NT, neither solution is the appropriate solutionfor every type of business or every type of network environment. Instead, the type of environment in which the NOS will be placed determinesthe correct product. If the organization is using a local network onlyto store word processing and spreadsheet files and to print, theneither NetWare or Windows NT offers a reasonable alternative as the NOSof choice since both handle these functions with ease. If the system includes a number of geographiclocations and information and requests for functions is passed among sophisticatedapplications, a richer and more robust environment is needed. A numberof organizations have turned to combining network operating systems inorder to support these more sophisticated needs. In these situations,the users gain the strengths of both systems while eliminating their weaknesses(the domain dependence of Windows NT, for example). BibliographyDryden, Patrick. Server Tune-UpHelps NT, NetWare Efficiency. Computerworld, November 11, 1996, 65-66. Microsoft Support. http://www.microsoft.com/support/. Newman, David and David Hurd. SMP:Expect the Unexpected. Data Communications, 21 March 1996, 56-63. Stanczak, Mark. NetWare, NT Server Command-Central.PC Week, 15 January 1996, N1-N2. __________. NOSes Challenge the Powerof Next-Generation Hardware. PC Week, 1 April 1996, 75-76. Support. http://support.novell.com. Surkan, Michael. NetWare SMP Cant KeepUp with the Competition. PC Week, 1 April 1996, 78. Vaughan-Nichols, Steven J. Web-ServerBeats Novells NetWare Entry in Both Versatility and Capacity. Byte, May1996, 113-115.