NetWarederived

NetWare-derived refers to a family of operating systems developed from the NetWare platform, which was originally designed by Novell in the 1980s. NetWare was a popular choice for networked environments, particularly in small to medium-sized businesses, due to its ease of use and robust networking features.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Novell began to transition away from its NetWare platform in favor of newer technologies, such as Linux and open-source solutions. However, this led to the emergence of netware-derived operating systems from third-party developers, which drew inspiration from NetWare's codebase and feature set.

These derivatives often aim to capture the core strengths of NetWare, including its strong networking capabilities, file and print sharing, and robust security features. By leveraging the existing NetWare codebase, these operating systems can offer a more familiar and easier-to-migrate-from option for users who are accustomed to the NetWare platform.

Examples of NetWare-derived operating systems include OpenNetWare, Caldera NetWare, and SuSE eBox, among others. Each has its unique features and focus, ranging from enhanced security and performance to support for legacy NetWare applications.

While netware-derived operating systems can provide users with a seamless transition from the NetWare platform, they may also lack the support and updates offered by Novell for the original NetWare operating system. Nonetheless, these operating systems cater to a dedicated market of users who continue to value the NetWare heritage in their networking and file server operations.