IBM LAN Server

The IBM LAN Server is a network operating system based on LAN Manager, which was originally developed by Microsoft and 3Com. As a basis it usually comes the operating system OS / 2 is used. However, there were also versions for RS/6000 (AIX) and AS/400 ( OS/400). Up to version 4.0 (1994 ) of the LAN Server was marketed as a single server product for OS / 2. For the clients of the LAN Requester for DOS or OS / 2 was used. The extended version supported the performance file system HPFS386 and fault tolerance. With the release of OS / 2 Warp Server (1996 ) it was delivered into the operating system product. The last revision was delivered in 2002 with the Convenience Packages for OS / 2 WarpServer for e-business.

Network Protocols

The first versions still needed the OS / 2 Extended version to support the network devices. Starting with version 2.0, this was achieved by the Network Transport Services / 2 ( NTS / 2), which later became the Multi- Protocol Transport Services ( MPTS ) have been further developed. This also included the NetBIOS protocol over TCP / IP, which separately as IBM NetBIOS for TCP / IP was previously offered.

For the connection of Apple Macintosh computers via the AppleTalk additional product LAN Server for Macintosh was required. The LAN Server Ultimedia was an additional add-on product for multimedia purposes.

Services

The server was a domain controller ( domain controller) or simple member server for the release of drives, directories, printers, serial ports are used in the network. Another feature is Remote IPL ( RIPL ) to the remote initial program loading for DOS or OS2 Client without hard drive.

Versions

Since 1996, replaced by OS / 2 Warp Server

• 5.0 - 1996 - included in OS / 2 Warp Server
• 5.1 - 1997 - included in OS / 2 Warp Server SMP
• 5.2 - 1999 - included in OS / 2 Warp Server for e-business

Since 1996, replaced by IBM AIX Connections version 4.1