Communication Software

Communication software is an application or program that manages the transmission

of data between computes over wired or wireless channels i.e. program designed to
pass information from one computer system to another e.g. between a server and a
client.
Such software provides remote access to systems and transmits files in a multitude of
formats such as text, video or audio between computers from one location to another.
Communication software forms a part of communication systems with software
components classified according to functions within the Open Systems
Interconnection Model (OSI Model)
Types of Communication Software
(a)Network software- broad term for a range of software that is designed to help
set up, manage, and monitor computer networks.
Network software includes
(i)Network operating system(Server software) is an operating system that contains
components and programs that allow a computer (server)on a network to serve
requests from other computers for data and provide access to other resources such as
database sharing, application sharing ,file sharing and printer access sharing among
multiple computers in a network such as Microsoft windows NT,Microsoft windows
server 2003,2008,Linux,unix,Mac OS/X ,Novel Netware etc
(ii)Email software-program for creating, sending, receiving and organizing electronic
mail, or email. Modern desktop email clients like Microsoft Outlook, Windows Live
Mail and Mozilla Thunderbird offer advanced features for managing email, including
WYSIWYG editors for composing email messages, anti-spam and anti-phishing
security protection, advanced search capabilities, and rules and filters for more
efficiently handling and organizing messages and email folders. Others email software
include pine,Eudora,outlook express among others.
(iii)Routing software- program implemented inside a router that determines the next
network point to which a packet should be forwarded toward its destination.
 
(b)Computer software -is the collection of computer programs or set of
instructions that a computer follows to perform tasks.

(i)System software: programs that controls the basic functions of a computer i.e.
computer software designed to operate and control the computer hardware and to
provide a platform for running application they include operating systems, utility
programs, device drivers,anti viruses, compression utilities ,system development
programs, data recovery software.

(ii) Application software: handles multitudes of common and specialized tasks a user
wants to perform, such as accounting, communicating, data processing, word
processing
Network Operating Systems (NOSs)
A network operating system is the most important software component in a computer
network. Network servers provide the storage necessary for network operating system
in a LAN .An operating system manages all applications and resources in a computer.
 Network operating systems are more complex and sophisticated than those for
microcomputers because they must address the needs of a very large number of users,
application programs, and hardware devices, as well as supply a host of administrative
and security features.
A network operating system provides printer sharing, common file system, database
sharing, application sharing, and the ability to manage a network name directory,
security, and other housekeeping aspects of a network.
Functions of Network Operating System
•Centrally manage network resources, such as programs, data and hardware devices.
•Maintain a file system of data sets,applications,user profiles and network peripherals.
•Prompt users for network login,validate accounts,apply restrictions,perform
accounting functions etc
•Secure access to a network(support networksystem security).
•Manage locally connected users and remotely connected users in a network i.e
processes requests from users

3
•Manage the connection between LANs to other networks like the Internet.
•Back up data and make sure it's always available.
•Allow for simple additions of clients and resources.
•Monitor the status and functionality of network elements.
•Distribute programs and software updates to clients.
•Ensure efficient use of a server's capabilities
 Types of Network operating Systems
UNIX
 The UNIX NOS was developed in 1969, and it has evolved into many varieties.
 The source code is opened, that is, available at no cost to anyone who wants to modify it.
 It is written in C programming language so businesses, academic institutions, and even
individuals can develop their own versions.
 There are hundreds of different versions of UNIX.
 UNIX is a computer operating system, a control program that works with users to
◦ run programs,
◦ manage resources, and
◦ communicate with other computer systems.
 Several people can use a UNIX computer at the same time; hence UNIX is called a multiuser
system. Any of these users can also run multiple programs at the same time; hence UNIX is
called multitasking.
 Logging on to a UNIX machine
 Because UNIX is a multiuser operating system, you need to start by finding a terminal,
computer, or other way to access the system.
 Connect your terminal or PC to the UNIX system until the point where you see a login prompt
(login:) on your screen. Use the phone and modem to dial up the computer if you need to

5
Parts of the UNIX OS
 The Kernel - handles memory management, input and output requests,
and program scheduling. Technically speaking, the kernel is the OS. It
provides the basic software connection to the hardware. The kernel is very
complex and deals with the inner workings of these things, and is beyond
the scope of this course. The kernel is covered in detail in “Operating
Systems.”
 The Shell and Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) - basic UNIX shells
provides a “command line” interface which allows the user to type in
commands. These commands are translated by the shell into something
the kernel can comprehend, and then executed by the kernel.
 The Built-in System Utilities - are programs that allow a user to perform
tasks which involve complex actions. Utilities provide user interface
functions that are basic to an operating system, but which are too complex
to be built into the shell. Examples of utilities are programs that let us see
the contents of a directory, move & copy files, remove files, etc...
 Application Software & Utilities – these are not part of the operating
system, per se. They are additional programs that are bundled with the
OS distribution, or available separately. These can range from additional
or different versions of basic utilities, to full scale commercial
applications.
Novell NetWare
NetWare is another brand of operating system designed for networks or simply a local
area network (LAN) operating system. And, this OS is a product of the popular IT-
centered company Novell, Inc. This is a kind of software that may be used in various
types of local area networks such as Ethernets and IBM token-ring networks. A
dependable interface may be expected by both users as well as programmers when
using the NetWare. It does not rely much on the specific hardware, which is utilized
in sending out messages.
Novell’s NetWare was primarily dedicated for the installation in both large and small
LANs. But then Novel, Inc. decided to upgrade their product and they added some
other features into the network OS NetWare. The company’s chief purpose for
improving the capacity of their product is to make it applicable for larger and diverse
networks like the Internet

NetWare became very well-known that it surpassed all the other network operating
systems (NOSs) present in the market during the middle of the year 1980s and 1990s.
It was proven at that period of time that NetWare truly had an exceptionally high
level of performance as compared to the other NOS being sold during those past
years. During the early existence of the Novell NetWare, its number one opponent
was the Windows NT operating system, which is a product from the large technology
company Microsoft Corporation
 Linux Operating System
 Linux is an operating system similar to UNIX. It runs on many different
computers and was first released in 1991.
 Linux is portable, which means versions can be found running on name brand or
clone PCs.
 Linux offers many features adopted from other versions of UNIX.

 Linux is sometimes referred to as "UNIX Lite", and it is designed to run on Intel-
compatible PCs.
 However, Linux will run on other machines as well.
 Linux brings the advantages of UNIX to home and small business computers.
 The following are a few of the most popular types:
◦ Red Hat Linux
◦ Linux Mandrake
◦ Caldera eDesktop and eServer
◦ Debian GNU/Linux
◦ Corel Linux
◦ Turbo Linux
Linux Clients
 Windows clients can access Linux servers without client software if the UNIX
servers run Samba, which is a program that uses the Server Message Block
(SMB) application layer protocol.
 Windows computers use SMB for file access across the network.
 Samba permits them to see the Linux file system.
Windows Server
Windows Server is a brand name for a group of server operating systems released by
Microsoft. It includes all Windows operating systems that have "Windows Server" in
their names.
Members
This brand includes the following operating systems.
Windows Server 2003(April 2003)
Windows Server 2003 R2(December 2005)
Windows Server 2008 (February 2008)
Windows Server 2008 R2 (July 2009)
Windows Server 2012 (September 2012)
Windows Server 2012 R2 (October 2013)
Microsoft has also produced Windows Server Essentials (formerly Windows Small
Business Server) and Windows Essential Business Server (discontinued), software
bundles which includes a Windows Server operating system and some other Microsoft
Servers products