Exam Essentials " Network + Chapter 5 "

Exam Essentials
Be able to describe the basic capabilities UNIX/Linux. UNIX/Linux is the NOS with the longest history. It consists of a core (called a kernel) and a user interface called a shell. Linux is an operating system based on UNIX and developed by Linus Torvalds that primarily runs on the Intel platform and is in widespread use. UNIX/Linux uses standard TCP/IP protocol for communications and network services. You can use multiple methods of authentication by simply installing different software packages.
Be able to describe the basic capabilities of NetWare. NetWare is the most widespread NOS in use today. It was the first NOS to be used for PC LANs. It is popular with administrators of large networks. It has excellent client support for multiple client platforms. Additionally, it has software to interoperate with other computing platforms natively. NetWare 4.x and above uses
NDS for authentication. NDS is a directory service that keeps track of all of the network entities and performs authentication for them. Although NetWare makes a great server platform, there
aren’t as many applications for NetWare as there are for Windows or other NOS platforms. 
However, it is the most secure NOS. Government agencies all use NetWare as their core NOS. Be able to describe the basic capabilities of Windows. Windows Server is the NOS with the
most application support. It uses the same interface and, to some extent, the same software as the desktop Windows versions. It has limited client support but does support interoperability
with other NOS platforms, like NetWare and UNIX. The most current version of Windows Server uses Kerberos and Active Directory for authentication. Kerberos is the method of authentication and Active Directory is the directory that holds the authentication information (like usernames, passwords, etc.). Windows Server uses folders and shares to provide file and print
services to clients, thus making it easy to use. Windows main challenge is the amount of security problems it has, but these are overcome by keeping the NOS patched to the most current levels

at all times.

Be able to describe the basic capabilities of Macintosh. The Mac OS platform is the easiest platform to use. The newest version is based on a UNIX kernel, so essentially it is a UNIX server. In addition to Mac clients, a Mac server can support UNIX clients and Windows clients (through Samba). Authentication is handled through Kerberos (similar to UNIX and Windows Server) and Open Directory. File and print services are handled through AppleShare and other open protocols and utilities (like FTP and HTTP). Mac OS has limited application support; it has the fewest native applications of any of the listed NOSes, but it can run some of the UNIX applications (although they may require recompiling).