A network operating system (NOS) provides services to clients over a network, enabling file sharing, printing, and application access. It handles typical network duties like remote access, routing, security, and administration. Well-known NOSes include Windows Server, Linux, and Mac OS X. In a client-server network, servers run the NOS to provide centralized resources to client computers running other operating systems. Common server types are file servers, print servers, mail servers, application servers, and database servers.