The first are ignorant of the existence of the network. This category encompasses many of the common applications that can be run unmodified on either a standalone system, or shared through the use of a common server directory.

The second type are termed network-aware, and are generally characterized by a design that reflects the fact that they may be shared by a number of different users. One feature of these applications may be the use of user profiles, which are typically configuration files invoked on the basis of the user ID, that customize the application environment for each user.

The third group of applications are those that are network-enabled. These applications are designed specifically to exploit the networked environment. A common example is electronic mail. Client/ server and workgroup productivity applications (groupware) also fit into this category.

In the following pages, well explore these in greater detail.