Editing Local area network (section)

=== Competing standards ===
In practice, the concept was marred by the proliferation of incompatible [[physical layer]] and [[network protocol]] implementations, and a plethora of methods of sharing resources. Typically, each vendor would have its own type of network card, cabling, protocol, and [[network operating system]]. A solution appeared with the advent of [[Novell NetWare]] which provided even-handed support for dozens of competing card and cable types, and a much more sophisticated operating system than most of its competitors.

Of the competitors to NetWare, only [[Banyan Vines]] had comparable technical strengths, but Banyan never gained a secure base. [[3Com]] produced [[3+Share]] and Microsoft produced [[MS-Net]]. These then formed the basis for collaboration between [[Microsoft]] and 3Com to create a simple network operating system [[LAN Manager]] and its cousin, IBM's [[LAN Server]]. None of these enjoyed any lasting success; Netware dominated the personal computer LAN business from early after its introduction in 1983 until the mid-1990s when Microsoft introduced [[Windows NT]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://guide.sbanetweb.com/press/varbiz07116001.html |title=Has Microsoft Ever Read the History Books? |publisher=VARBusiness |author=Wayne Spivak |date=2001-07-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716012211/http://guide.sbanetweb.com/press/varbiz07116001.html |archive-date=2011-07-16 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 1983, TCP/IP was first shown capable of supporting actual defense department applications on a Defense Communication Agency LAN testbed located at Reston, Virginia.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Scott|first=W. Ross|date=May 1, 1984|title=Updated Local Area Network Demonstration Plan|journal=MITRE Corporation Working Paper|issue=WP83W00222R1}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=MITRENET: A Testbed Local Area Network at DTNSRDC.|last=Havard (II.)|first=Richard|publisher=Defense Technical Information Center|date=17 June 1986|location=Ft. Belvoir Defense Technical Information Center|page=i}}</ref> The TCP/IP-based LAN successfully supported [[Telnet]], [[FTP]], and a Defense Department teleconferencing application.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Scott|first1=W. Ross|last2=Cavedo|first2=Robert F.|date=September 1, 1984|title=Local Area Network Demonstration Procedures|journal=MITRE Corporation Working Paper|issue=WP83W00595}}</ref> This demonstrated the feasibility of employing TCP/IP LANs to interconnect [[Worldwide Military Command and Control System]] (WWMCCS) computers at command centers throughout the United States.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Scott|first=W. Ross|date=August 1, 1984|title=Local Area Network Alternative "A" Demonstration Analysis (DRAFT)|journal=MITRE Corporation Working Paper|issue=WP84W00281}}</ref> However, WWMCCS was superseded by the [[Global Command and Control System]] (GCCS) before that could happen.

During the same period, [[Unix workstation]]s were using TCP/IP networking. Although the workstation market segment is now much reduced, the technologies developed in the area continue to be influential on the Internet and in all forms of networking—and the TCP/IP protocol has replaced [[IPX]], [[AppleTalk]], [[NetBIOS Frames|NBF]], and other protocols used by the early PC LANs.

[[Econet]] was Acorn Computers's low-cost local area network system, intended for use by schools and small businesses. It was first developed for the [[Acorn Atom]] and [[Acorn System 2]]/[[Acorn System 3|3]]/[[Acorn System 4|4]] computers in 1981.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Retro Isle - Acorn Econet|url=http://www.retroisle.com/general/acorn_econet.php|access-date=2020-10-28|website=www.retroisle.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Chris's Acorns: Econet|url=http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/Network/Econet.html|access-date=2020-10-28|website=chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk}}</ref>