LAN Components Continued...
NOS Network Server
- enables the file server, print server, database server etc.
- acts as the application software by executing the requests sent to it by the clients (e.g., copying a file from its hard disc, transferring it to the client, printing a file, executing a database request and transferring the result to the client
NOS Client Software
- provides the data link and transport layers for the client
- works together with the clients operating system
- standardized interface between the application and the NOS is called Application Program Interface (API) (Any application software that uses a particular API format to issue requests can communicate with any NOS that uses the same API)