1) File sharing: File sharing is the primary feature of network. Due to use of networks, the sharing of files becomes easier. File sharing requires a shared directory or disk drive to which many users can access over the network. When many users are accessing the same file on the network, more than one person can make changes to a file at the same time. They might both making conflicting changes simultaneously.
2) Printer sharing: Printer sharing is beneficial to many users as they can share costly & higher quality printers. Printer sharing can be done in several different ways on network. The most common way is to use printer queues on server. The printer queue holds print job until any currently running print jobs are finished & then automatically send the waiting jobs to the printer i.e. printer connected to server. Another way to share printer on a network is that each
workstations accesses the printer directly.
3) Application services: You can also share application on a network. For example you can have a shared copy of Microsoft office or some other application & keep it on the network server.
Another application services you can have on the network is shared installation i.e. contents of CD-ROM copy to the server, then run the installation the installing application mush faster & more convenient.
4) E- mail services :E-mail is extremely valuable & important feature for communication within organization or outside the people in world. E-mail service can be used by user in two different ways : 1. File based 2.Client
File based e-mail system requires gateway server for connecting or handling the e-mail interface between the two systems using gateway software that is part of the file-based e-mail system.
A client-server e-mail system is one where an e-mail server containing the messages & handles all incoming & outgoing mail. It is more secure & powerful than file based e-mail system.
5) Remote access: Using this feature user can access their file & e-mail, when they are travelling or working on remote location. It enables users to access to centralized application, stored private or shared files on LAN.
6) Internet & Intranet: Internet: It is public network. This consists of thousands of individual networks & millions of computers located around the world. Internets have many different types of services available such as e-mail, the web & Usenet newsgroups.
Intranet: It is private network or it is company‟s own network. Company use this feature for internal use. For example: company establish its own web server, for placing documents such as employee handbooks, purchases form or other information that company publishes for internal use. It also has internet services such as FTP servers or Usenet servers.
7) Network security: Internal & External