The aim of this thesis is to explore operating systems, network operating systems, cloud operating system and web-based operating systems and the possibilities they offer, their limitations and the technologies used in them thus giving the reader a clear view of what network operating systems are in practice. This thesis will also consider what network operating system is, whether they yet exist or will they even exist.

This thesis includes a guide of a traditional network operating system installation as well as introduction and a study of how network operating systems would be suitable as a tool for the students of data processing in the Oulu University of Applied Sciences. This thesis also discusses Google’s Chromebook concept and how it fits in to the category of network operating systems. This thesis is based on source material and all of the sources are from the Internet.

The aim of this thesis was to study operating systems, network operating systems, cloud operating system and web-based operating systems and the possibilities they offer, their limitations and the technologies used in them. This thesis also includes a guide of the installation of eXastum network operating system and a review of the future of network operating systems. These goals were achieved.