computer science

Novell S-Net

Novell S-Net is a computer science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Novell S-Net rather than just read about it. In short: S-Net (a.k.a. ShareNet) was a network operating system and the set of network protocols it used to talk to client machines on the network.

Key takeaways

Novell S-Net belongs to computer science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Novell S-Net to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Novell S-Net from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

S-Net (a.k.a. ShareNet) was a network operating system and the set of network protocols it used to talk to client machines on the network. Released by Novell in 1983, the S-Net operating system was an entirely proprietary operating system written for the Motorola 68000 processor. Physically, S-Net used a star topology to allow up to 24 DOS and/or CP/M machines to connect directly to the 68B server machine. Ethernet and ARCnet were both considered but dismissed on cost grounds. S-NET used cheap dual twisted-pair phone wire and since each client computer was directly connected, the need for complex network addressing was eliminated. The 68B server ran NetWare/S-Net S-Net has also been called NetWare 68, with the 68 denoting the 68000 processor. It was superseded in 1985 by NetWare 86, which was written for the Intel 8086 processor. NetWare/86 which came in several editions and paved the way for the subsequent monolithic version of NetWare.

References Causey, James. "Part IV: The Right OS for the Job; Chapter 22: NetWare - A Brief History of NetWare". High-Performance Networking Unleashed. Macmillan Computer Publishing. Archived from the original on 2018-09-02. Retrieved 2018-09-02. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help) White, Jr., Roger Bourke (2010). "Hardware Independence". Surfing the High Tech Wave: A story of Novell's early years, 1980-1990. Archived from the original on 2018-09-02. Retrieved 2018-09-02. "LAN Tech" (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2006-02-10.

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Novell S-Net

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Novell S-Net claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In computer science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Novell S-Net before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Novell S-Net ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Novell S-Net

In research: Novell S-Net appears in computer science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Novell S-Net in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Novell S-Net is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Network operating systems, Novell software, Operating system stubs, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Novell S-Net outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Novell S-Net in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Novell S-Net means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Novell S-Net out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Novell S-Net in simple terms?

S-Net (a.k.a. ShareNet) was a network operating system and the set of network protocols it used to talk to client machines on the network.

Why does Novell S-Net matter?

Because it connects several computer science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Novell S-Net?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Novell S-Net.