Netware
| Field | Computer science, IT |
| Went Obsolete | Early 2000s |
| Made Obsolete By | Competition from Microsoft's server products |
| Knowledge Assumed | Novell certification, computer science degree |
| When useful | 1980s, 1990s |
| Replaced By | SUSE Linux |
Novell NetWare? was a popular networked operating system developed by Novell, and was extremely popular in the late 1980s and 1990s. It's massive popularity was due to the lack of networked operating systems on the market (most Windows operating systems back then did not have networking built in, or did not have server functionality. Windows for Workgroups 3.11 was the first Windows operating system to feature built in workgroup networking). At the time of it's success, NetWare? was considered to be the "de facto" of file and printer sharing.
Operating a Novell NetWare? server in an enterprise typically required several computer science degrees from collages, or certification from Novell (similar to Microsoft's certification program).
Novell NetWare? was made obsolete in the mid to late 1990s, and into 2000. When Microsoft began marketing server operating systems, starting with Windows NT Server, more people began using Windows servers.