Unlike contemporary OSs, NetWare was a dedicated "microkernel" designed purely for file and print services. By running in Ring 0 (the most privileged level of the CPU) and using cooperative multitasking, it could outperform almost anything else on the hardware of the time.
NetWare 3.12 was famous for its extreme uptime. It was not uncommon for a 3.12 server to run for over 16 years of continuous operation without a single reboot. Unlike modern operating systems that require frequent patching, 3.12 was a lean, 32-bit kernel designed for the single-minded purpose of file and print services . Key Features and Enhancements novell netware 3.12
Another significant feature of NetWare 3.12 was its support for a wide range of network protocols, including IPX (Internetwork Packet Exchange), TCP/IP, and AppleTalk. This made it an attractive option for organizations with diverse network environments. It was not uncommon for a 3
Today, you can run NetWare 3.12 in DOSBox or a VM. The ISOs are out there (abandonware now, essentially). Fire it up, create a user named SUPERVISOR with a blank password (because security was... different), and load INSTALL to partition a virtual drive. This made it an attractive option for organizations