Network operating systems have been around for more than thirty years. The original network operating systems were mostly based on Unix first developed by Bell Laboratories. Unix was originally designed to be a network operating system. These operating systems were highly complex to use and took highly trained network administrators to implement them.
The first popular network operating system was Novell Netware. The original versions of Microsoft Windows did not contain any ability to network. Only later did Microsoft develop Windows for Workgroups, NT, and add networking operating system capabilities to Windows 95.
Today, Novell Netware and Windows NT are the network operating systems most widely used. Various versions of UNIX are also widely used especially in higher educational institutions. The use of Linux is growing rapidly as a network operating system. Apple Computerís network operating systems, Mac OS X Server and AppleShare IP are mostly found in niche markets such as publishing and smaller school districts.