Alternatives of Network File System Essay Example For Students

Alternatives of Network File System Essay Sun Microsystems provides NFS version 4 5The relation between the NFS server andClient file systems 6Architecture of NFS8Alternative for NFS9What is CIFS (SMP)..9comparison between NFS and CIFS(SMP)11Conclusion.15Bibliography..17 Since human beings have used Computers , the request of being rich ,and getting more information quicker than before has increased . Have you ever found yourself rushing from one computer to another in your office or home ,attending to several different jobs at various location? Or do you often find yourself moving files that need printing from a PC that you happen to be working on the PC that is Connected to the printer ?You may have heard a lot about the advantages of using the internet for sending e-mail, and decided that you want to get connected . Or perhaps you are already connected to the internet through a single PC/Modem , but want all of your office colleagues to have access . All of these situations can be made easier by allowing the various machines to communicate with each other by networking the PCs but sometime you dont know that your PC has (NFS) operating system for sharing file systems and directories across TCP/IP based Networks. Network File System (NFS) is a popular network operating system and its a distributed file system that allows users to access files and directories located on remote Computers and treat those files and directories as if they were local. For example, users can use operating system commands to create, remove, read write and set files attributes for remotes files and directories. NFS was first introduced by Sun Microsystems in the early 1980s and was quickly adopted as de facto standard for sharing files and printers between UNIX system. This standard was extended to include PCs and became the basis for must transparent file and print connectivity software solutions . Examples of using NFSCreating a /usr/local environment in a multi architecture environment. Some directories such as man and doc are architecture neutral, others such as bin and lib are architecture specific. Creating a rational user file system, when users have files located on their specific machines NFS can be used to make it look coherent on the server. Creating a central mail spool for all users. This allows users to sign on any machine and access there mail. In this report , I highlighted some inquires that related with NFS such as :Sun Microsystems provides NFS version 4 The NFS standard, which Sun created and turned over to the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), enables diverse oper ating environments to access and share remote files across the network. NFSv4 improves on four areas of the standard: security, performance, interoperability and Internet access. To provide strong security for NFS v4, implementations of the protocol must provide for the use of Kerberos V5 and Public Key Infrastructures through the use of the Low Infrastructure Public Key, LIPKEY; dynamic client response to changes on NFS servers; namespaces that are compatible across all platforms; client file caching that provides for good performance via the Internet while maintaining performance in the traditional LAN environment; and compound operations to minimize the number of connections necessary per transfer. The relationship between NFS server and Client file system. NFS consists of the NFS server and the NFS client software. The NFS server is implemented as a daemon, waiting for requests from clients. The NFS server does not retain the state of the NFS client. NFS is designed to give users high performance, transparent access to server file systems on global networks. Some of the most important design principles are summarized below:Transparent Access, Statelessness, Portability, Fast Recovery From Failure, Network Protocol Independence, Performance, Security. Are there any Alternative for NFS?-AFS Andrew File System developed at CMU -DFS Distributed File System from OSF. -RFS Remote File System found on older V.3 versions -Netware Novell based file system. -CIFS Common Internet File SystemCIFS defines a standard remote file system access protocol for use over the Internet, enabling groups of users to work together and share documents across the Internet or within their corporate intranets. CIFS is an open, cross-platform technology based on the native file-sharing protocols built into Microsoft Windows and other popular PC operating systems, and supported on dozens of other platforms, including UNIX. With CIFS, millions of computer users can open and share remote files on the Internet without having to install new software or change the way they work. Technology comparison between NFS and CIFS(SMP). In every textbook description of NFS, its statelessness is emphasized. NFS operations are idempotent (can be repeatedly applied harmlessly), or if non-idempotent (e.x., file deletion) are managed safely by the server. Clients are oblivious to server reboots (if service is restored promptly), with few exceptions. The NFS protocol emphasizes error recovery over file locking error recovery is simple if no state need be preserved. A CIFS file server is not stateless. The CIFS protocol emphasizes locking over error recovery because PC application software relies on strict locking. Strict locking requires a sustained connection. It is imperative that an active session not be interrupted. Applications executing on PC clients react to a CIFS server in exactly the same manner as they do to local disk drives: a down server is no different a condition than an unresponsive disk drive. Therefore, PC clients must be warned and allowed time to gracefully disengage (i.e., save files, exit applicat ions, and so on) before server shutdowns or reboots. I have explaned similarly points between NFS and CIFS ,which to be provided in the conclusion last report . 1.1Sun Microsystems provides NFS version 4 When the NFS protocol was designed, machines were far less powerful than today, networks were more commonly local area networks (LANs) than wide area networks (WANs), and available security mechanisms were relatively easy to exploit. Additionally, although NFS was designed to interoperate between different operating systems, many of the protocol features have favored UNIX file semantics. This history has led to problems in using NFS solutions over the Internet, where security, performance, and interoperability are key. Version 4 of NFS is designed to address these concerns by providing:Improved access and good performance on the InternetStrong security, with security negotiation built into the protocolEnhanced cross-platform interoperabilityStronger in its support of intranets and the Internet, NFS Version 4 will also provide excellent service in environments currently standardized on earlier versions of NFS. Unlike versions 2 or 3, NFS Vers ion 4 can be an important element in the strategy of enterprises to provide better support for global networks. Although NFS Version 4 owes its general design to previous versions of NFS, it is a self-contained protocol that does not have any dependencies on the previous versions. However, to address backward compatibility with the installed base, Versions 2, 3, and 4 can be supported concurrently. Current users of NFS Versions 2 and 3 may look forward to NFS Version 4 as a reasonable, solid migration strategy to serve their Internet and intranet distributed file system needs. At the time of the publication of this white paper, the NFS Version 4 protocol is still under development by the IETF(1), so, the final standard may not incorporate all of the features exactly as they are described here. However, NFS Version 4 uses a universal character set, so it doesnt matter if the user accessing the file has a different locale than the user who created the file. This universal programming of the character makes it possible to determine what language the character is from and how to display it on the client. The server does not need to associate a locale with a pathname. IETF(1) the IETF is an open international community with evolution of the internet architecture .As such ,it is the principal body engaged in the development of anew internet standards and procedures. 2.1The relation between the NFS serverNFS consists of the NFS server and the NFS client software. The NFS server is implemented as a daemon, waiting for requests from clients. The NFS server does not retain the state of the NFS client. The NFS server daemon is multithreaded; it processes multiple NFS client calls, in parallel. The NFS server daemon is also an event-driven, asynchronous process. Each NFS client call contains all the information necessary to complete the request see Figure ( 1 ) . The NFS client software implements a state mechanism that maintains all information required for processing client requests. Each client operation can be requested more than once and contains all the information necessary to complete the request. This model presumes no file open and close requests because these require saving the state of the object and that the server write data to the disk before returning the reply message to the user. When mounting a remote file system, an NFS client send s a message that makes the remote file system part of the local file directory. The remote host redirects operations that access files on the remote file system to the NFS client software. The NFS client and NFS server then exchange messages. All 4 one - SONG ANALYSIS Essay10 Network ManagementIn an NFS-based approach, network management becomes more complex as each new PC is added. Additionally, most NFS-based connectivity solutions bundle additional applications (such as Email clients, ftp client, etc.) which add administrative complexity each time the product is upgraded.The CIFS server requires about 6MB of disk space on the server and takes about 10-20 minutes to install and configure. For file and print services, no software is required on any of the PCs. The CIFS-based approach is considerably more network management friendly in terms of the resources needed for installation and ongoing maintenance. CIFS also requires no change to the network drivers on either end (server or client) of the network. NFS fully satisfies enterprise requirements for global file sharing. It supports global workgroups by keeping file systems located worldwide continuously and transparently accessible to users. An industry leader in per formance, NFS provides fast access to file information as well as the scalability to support small to large network environments. Because it relies on a flexible and extensible security architecture, it enables administrators to choose the security solution that fits their environment today and to have more options in the future. The ability to administer NFS centrally reduces the time and effort it takes to perform a variety of routine administration tasks. Finally, for mission critical environments, a highly available NFS implementation is provided. These features together with the vast array of multi-vendor NFS products to choose from and a rapidly growing licensee and installed base, reaffirm that NFS is the right choice for integrating the heterogeneous enterprise both now and in the future. Solstice Network Clients NFS software was designed for complete integration with all Microsoft Windows platforms Windows NT, Windows 95, Windows 3.1 and Windows for Workgroups 3.11. Your users retain their familiar Microsoft Windows interface and continue to work with point and click ease. The increased eight-way SMP support in Windows 2000 Advanced Server complements the reliability and scalability features of the new eight-way HP NetServer LXr 8500 system, said Eileen OBrien, marketing manager, Hewlett-Packard Network Server Division. The powerful combination of Windows 2000 and the HP NetServer systems will enable our enterprise customers to optimize performance by providing best-in-class power, investment protection and intelligent management. By increasing the SMP support in each of the Windows 2000 Server products, Microsoft is supporting the shift to higher end servers that are powerful, versatile and fast enough to handle the demands of large enterprises, said Sandy Carter, director, PartnerWorld for Developers, Netfinity Brand at IBM. The eight-way SMP support in Windows 2000 Advanced Server and the Netfinity 8500R will provide customers with a solution that maximizes uptime and provides superior manageability for compute-intensive business intelligence, trans action processing and server consolidation projects while providing a great value in eight-way servers.Bibliography:Bibliography Nance,B. (1997) Introduction to Networking, Forth Edition, by Que Corporation. Pages 231,235 Heath,S. (1993) Effective PC Networking, First Edition , by An imprint of Butterworth Heinmann Ltd. Page 102. -Santifaller,M. (1994) TCP / IP and ONC / NFS , Second Edition ,by Addison-Wesley. Pages from 134 to 137. Douba,S. (1998) Networking Unix the complete reference for Unix networks, Forth Edition, by Sams Publishing . Pages 302,314,320. Websites References http://www.netapp.com/tech_library/3014.htmlhttp://www.ietf.org/proceedings /99jul/l-d/draft-ietf-nfsv4-requirements-03.text. http://www.facetcorp.com/competition_nfs_cifs comparison.htmlhttp://www.sun.com/smi/press/sunfash/2000-02/sunflash.20000202.2.htmlhttp://msdn.microsoft.com/worshop/networking/CIFS/default.asphttp://www.sun.com/software/white-papers/wp-nfs/nfs_9.htmlhttp://nscp.upenn.edu/aix4.3html/aixbman/commadmn/nfs_introhtml http://www.linuxdoc.org/HOWTO/SMB-HOWTO.html http://windowsitlibrary.com/Content/172/01/26.htmlPortfolio of report :Reference No : 1Reference name : Nance,B. (1997) Introduction to Networking, Forth Edition, by Que Corporation. Titles: general information about NFS page 231 ,NFS and protocols (TCP/IP) page 235. Reference No : 2Reference name : Heath,S. (1993) Effective PC Networking, First Edition , by An imprint of Butterworth Heinmann Ltd. Titles: general information about NFS and how the NFS accesses in Networks . page 102 . Reference No : 3Reference name : Santifaller,M. (1994) TCP / IP and ONC / NFS ,Second Edition ,by Addison-Wesley. Titles: The first types of protocols and how are developedand some alternative to NFS Pages from 134 to137. Reference No : 4Reference name: Douba,S. (1998) Networking Unix the complete reference for Unix networks, Forth Edition, by Sams Publishing . Titles:Network File system: Concept and Setup and the relation between NFS server and C file system and also Architecture ofNFS and is NFS for Unix only! . Pages 302,314,320. Reference No : 5Website Address: http://www.netapp.com/tech_library/3014.htmlTitles:General information about NFS and CIFS(SMP) and give us some the common points between them, and NFS vs CIFS, Multiprotocol file service . Reference No : 6Website Address: http://www.ietf.org/proceedings /99jul/l-d/draft-ietf- nfsv4-requirements-03.text. Titles:The deferent between NFS v4 NFS v3,v2 ,and what is the new in NFS v4 . Reference No : 7Website Address: http://www.facetcorp.com/competition_nfs_cifs comparison.htmlTitles: Comparison NFS and CIFS (SMP ) . Reference No : 8Website Address: http://www.sun.com/smi/press/sunfash/2000- 02/sunflash.20000202.2.htmlTitles : Sun Microsystems gives key Component of NFS to the open source community, and provide NFS version 4 solutions . Reference No : 9Website Address: http://www.sun.com/software/white-papers/wp-nfs/nfs_9.htmlTitles : History of NFS from the past until now. Reference No : 10Website Address:http://msdn.microsoft.com/worshop/networking/CIFS /default.aspTitles : CIFS An internet File System Protocol ,Microsoft is making sure that CIFS tech is open ,published, and widely available for all computer users Reference No : 11Website Address : http://nscp.upenn.edu/aix4.3html/aixbman/commadmnhtmlTitles : NFS overview ,AIX supports the latest NFS protocol update . Reference No : 12Website Address : http://www.linuxdoc.org/HOWTO/SMB-HOWTO.html Titles : The SMP protocol is used by Microsoft , What is the SAMA?. there are four basic things that one can do with samba . Reference No : 13Website Address : http://windowsitlibrary.com/Content/172/01/26.htmlTitles : NFS in action , NFS comes to Windows NT , inter the PC.