ABSTRACT
Local Area Networks (LANs) have been around for approximately 20 years, although their true use in integrated systems is just beginning. The reason has been that software to control this new technology and to make it useful to users has just begun to stream into the marketplace. LAN software has been developed to provide integrated operating systems, database managers, file systems, and information banks, as well as a variety of end-user applications. The door has opened for LAN software vendors to enter and sell their wares. Systems management deals with software that provides the link between the network and applications. In addition, this is the layer where software that provides basic services for applications resides. Lantastic, Artsoft's network operating systems product, runs within DOS-based systems that possess NetBios software on its LAN interface cards. Vines is Banyan's product for a network operating system. This product runs on a dedicated server and interfaces to the network components via their NetBios component.
