NetWare is a network operating system developed by Novell in the 1980s. It was designed to facilitate file and printer sharing among computers in a local area network (LAN). NetWare became popular for its efficient handling of network resources and its ability to support multiple users simultaneously. Over the years, NetWare evolved through various versions, adding features like enhanced security and support for different protocols. However, as technology advanced and new operating systems emerged, such as Windows Server, NetWare's popularity declined, leading to its eventual discontinuation in the early 2000s.