Microsoft, Net Integration Technologies, Novell, and SUSE Linux are among the companies that produce operating systems geared for small businesses, and their products are reviewed in our roundup. All offer the same basic functions, which begin with e-mail services.

Server OSs provide other, more basic network functions as well, such as file and print sharing or sharing of a single Internet connection throughout your business. In addition, office productivity applications run on top of the server OSs.

Key to maintaining a growing network is having a directory service such as LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol), Microsoft Active Directory, or NDS (Novell Directory Services). In general, a directory service provides both a directory for your entire network (including hardware and software) and a central location for storing user information (including passwords, privileges, and groups) and security settings.

At PC Magazine.

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