Network Operating systems -- Windows NT 4.5
A network operating system must be capable of handling mission-critical business applications. It must be easy to maintain, it must have facilities for managing files, ensuring security and data protection, routing, messaging and print services. In this article we will take the example of the windows - NT 4.5 Network operating system in order to understand how a network operating system works.
The windows NT operating system is a complex operating system, which helps us to run computers connected to one another forming a network. Windows NT 3.1 and the Windows NT 4.5 were Microsoft corporation's early network operating systems. Thereafter, new operating systems developed in the same line as that of Windows NT were the windows 2000, windows 2003 and windows 2008 operating systems. These operating systems are built upon the same basic concept as that of windows NT, however, many improvements and additional utilities have been added.
Here, we will consider the features of Windows NT 4.5 operating system, as new operating systems are additions and upgradations of the windows NT 4.5 operating system.
Windows NT 4.5 operating system consists of two different sections-- 1) The windows NT Server 2) The windows NT workstation. The Windows NT Server 4.5 operating system is installed on the main or central Computer which is known as the Windows NT Server computer. Similarly, the windows NT workstation operating system is installed on each client computers connected to the main server and it is called as the Windows NT workstation computer. The windows NT operating system allows communication between the workstations and the servers, between the workstations themselves (through the server), and also between the servers themselves. Let us now see how the Windows NT server 4.5 and the Windows NT Workstation 4.5 operate in the network environment.
The Windows NT Server 4.5
1) Windows NT Server 4.5 provides a directory service. A directory service is a directory database that provides a single network login and single point of administration. The Directory service helps you to find other users and services on the network. The directory service helps users to logon and get access to any resources they have the rights to, without any additional logins.
2) Windows NT server 4.5 provides wizards for creating and managing groups of users, managing files and folder access for network clients etc.
3) Windows NT server 4.5 provides Network services including MS-DNS, MS-DHCP and MS-WINS.
4) Windows NT server 4.5 provides support for RAID technology.This ensures Data-protection as itis possible to backup the entire server and its data contents to the backup server in real time.
5) Windows NT server 4.5 provides integration with the Internet Information server (IIS), which is the web server, and the installation and management of the IIS web server is a part of the Operating Server.Windows NT server therefore provides support for internet and mobile communications.
5) Windows NT server 4.5 provides robust security features which prevent unauthorised access to sensitive files and prevent users from accessing resources that they are not authorised to use.
6) Windows NT server 4.5 provides print services which allow users to share printers with other users. Users can access printers from within their applications.
The Windows NT Workstation 4.5
1) Windows NT workstation 4.5 can be used as a standalone system, or as a client to the Window NT server. It can also be used in a peer to peer networking system.
2) Windows NT workstation 4.5 provides local security for the files, folders and other resources.
3) Windows NT workstation 4.5 provides security in the form of Authentication of the local workstation when working in the local mode or authentication of the domain controller when working as a client in the network mode.
4) All utilities are added to windows NT workstation 4.5 in the form of network drivers and protocol stacks in order to achieve network connectivity.
In our next articles we will consider advanced network operating systems such as the Windows 2000, 2003, and the 2008. We will also consider Windows Xp and Windows Vista, the microsoft's consumer based client operating systems, which have connectivity with the windows servers.
The windows NT operating system is a complex operating system, which helps us to run computers connected to one another forming a network. Windows NT 3.1 and the Windows NT 4.5 were Microsoft corporation's early network operating systems. Thereafter, new operating systems developed in the same line as that of Windows NT were the windows 2000, windows 2003 and windows 2008 operating systems. These operating systems are built upon the same basic concept as that of windows NT, however, many improvements and additional utilities have been added.
Here, we will consider the features of Windows NT 4.5 operating system, as new operating systems are additions and upgradations of the windows NT 4.5 operating system.
Windows NT 4.5 operating system consists of two different sections-- 1) The windows NT Server 2) The windows NT workstation. The Windows NT Server 4.5 operating system is installed on the main or central Computer which is known as the Windows NT Server computer. Similarly, the windows NT workstation operating system is installed on each client computers connected to the main server and it is called as the Windows NT workstation computer. The windows NT operating system allows communication between the workstations and the servers, between the workstations themselves (through the server), and also between the servers themselves. Let us now see how the Windows NT server 4.5 and the Windows NT Workstation 4.5 operate in the network environment.
The Windows NT Server 4.5
1) Windows NT Server 4.5 provides a directory service. A directory service is a directory database that provides a single network login and single point of administration. The Directory service helps you to find other users and services on the network. The directory service helps users to logon and get access to any resources they have the rights to, without any additional logins.
2) Windows NT server 4.5 provides wizards for creating and managing groups of users, managing files and folder access for network clients etc.
3) Windows NT server 4.5 provides Network services including MS-DNS, MS-DHCP and MS-WINS.
4) Windows NT server 4.5 provides support for RAID technology.This ensures Data-protection as itis possible to backup the entire server and its data contents to the backup server in real time.
5) Windows NT server 4.5 provides integration with the Internet Information server (IIS), which is the web server, and the installation and management of the IIS web server is a part of the Operating Server.Windows NT server therefore provides support for internet and mobile communications.
5) Windows NT server 4.5 provides robust security features which prevent unauthorised access to sensitive files and prevent users from accessing resources that they are not authorised to use.
6) Windows NT server 4.5 provides print services which allow users to share printers with other users. Users can access printers from within their applications.
The Windows NT Workstation 4.5
1) Windows NT workstation 4.5 can be used as a standalone system, or as a client to the Window NT server. It can also be used in a peer to peer networking system.
2) Windows NT workstation 4.5 provides local security for the files, folders and other resources.
3) Windows NT workstation 4.5 provides security in the form of Authentication of the local workstation when working in the local mode or authentication of the domain controller when working as a client in the network mode.
4) All utilities are added to windows NT workstation 4.5 in the form of network drivers and protocol stacks in order to achieve network connectivity.
In our next articles we will consider advanced network operating systems such as the Windows 2000, 2003, and the 2008. We will also consider Windows Xp and Windows Vista, the microsoft's consumer based client operating systems, which have connectivity with the windows servers.
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