Network services are the foundation on which the networked computing environment is built up. Generally network services are generally installed on one or more servers to provide shared resources to all the client computers linked with the network. Therefore, proper installation and operation of network service would play a major role to provide connectivity to each of the nodes of the network.

Network services are configured on corporate Local Area Networks to provide security and to ensure user-friendly operation. Proper configuration of the network would lead to Local Area Network run smoothly and efficiently. Corporate LANs use network services like DNS (Domain Name System) to convert names into IP (Internet Protocol) and MAC (Media Access Control) addresses, and DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) to ensure that every node on the network has a valid IP address.

DHCP reduces the administrative burden of the network administrator by automating the task of providing IP addresses to each node of the network. In case, a node is added or removed from a network then DHCP handles the task of providing proper IP address to each of the nodes of the reconfigured network. Another important is provided by Authentication Server. This server allows every user of the network to have their individual account maintained on this server, and every operation any user carries out on this network is recorded under their user name. This server is very important from the point of security to the network is concerned. Every user of the network must have his or her account registered on this server. Whenever any user logs in to the network, this server first authenticates the user before allowing the user access to the network.

The availability of these servers greatly reduces the administrative burden of the network administrator and saves time by carrying out their services automatically without any manual intervention.

Other important network service would include mail, printing and network file servers. Most of the Local Area Networks use these servers. Such a server would allow any user of the network to use any of the printers attached to LAN or access any file stored on the file server. Sometimes, the user has to undergo farther authentication to be able to utilize the services of these servers. Another important common network service would be directory services server.

When all the servers are working properly to provide all the aspects of network services, it would enable proper connectivity to the user proper connectivity to different resources of the network as well as between two different nodes of the network.