Best Free Network Operating Systems (NOS)
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Compare the Top Free Network Operating Systems (NOS) as of September 2025
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What are Free Network Operating Systems (NOS)?
A Network Operating System (NOS) is specialized software designed to manage and coordinate networked devices, ensuring efficient communication and resource sharing. It provides services such as file and print sharing, network security, and centralized user management, enabling seamless collaboration in a multi-user environment. NOS platforms are integral for managing local area networks (LANs) or wide area networks (WANs) and support both client-server and peer-to-peer architectures. Commonly used in enterprise environments, they offer robust tools for system administration, fault tolerance, and data backup. By enabling centralized control over network resources, a NOS ensures optimal performance, security, and scalability for networked systems. Compare and read user reviews of the best Free Network Operating Systems (NOS) currently available using the table below. This list is updated regularly.
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CacheGuard
CacheGuard Technologies
CacheGuard-OS transforms a virtual or bare metal machine into a powerful and easy to handle network appliance. It's a Linux based Operating System built from scratch and especially designed to Secure and Optimize the network traffic. Great care has been taken by CacheGuard-OS developers to select the best of the best Open Source technologies to integrate into CacheGuard-OS. The result is a robust and trustworthy solution that can be up and running within minutes. CacheGuard-OS integrates Open Source software such as but not limited to OpenSSL, NetFilter, IProute2, StrongSwan, ClamAV, Apache, ModSecurity, Squid and Open Source developments made by CacheGuard-OS developers.Starting Price: $9.99 per month -
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VyOS
VyOS Networks
Democratizing how we access networks through a universal router and open source software. Our vision at VyOS is to dramatically change how we access networks so that we can all build the solutions we always dreamed of, without restrictions, limitations, or prohibitive costs. We fundamentally believe that internet access is as vital to our human development as air, food, water, and healthcare. Built by engineers for engineers, VyOS is an open source software company that democratizes how we access networks so that the many, not the few, benefit from building solutions without limitations and prohibitive fees. We do this as VyOS through our open source software and virtual platforms. Stateful firewalls, zone-based firewall, all types of source and destination NAT (one to one, one to many, many to many). The entire codebase and build toolchain are available to everyone for auditing, building customized images and contributing.Starting Price: $1000 -
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FreeBSD
FreeBSD
FreeBSD offers advanced networking, performance, security and compatibility features today which are still missing in other operating systems, even some of the best commercial ones. FreeBSD makes an ideal Internet or Intranet server. It provides robust network services under the heaviest loads and uses memory efficiently to maintain good response times for thousands of simultaneous user processes. FreeBSD brings advanced network operating system features to appliance and embedded platforms, from higher-end Intel-based appliances to ARM, PowerPC, and MIPS hardware platforms. From mail and web appliances to routers, time servers, and wireless access points, vendors around the world rely on FreeBSD’s integrated build and cross-build environments and advanced features as the foundation for their embedded products. And the Berkeley open source license lets them decide how many of their local changes they want to contribute back.Starting Price: Free
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