16.5 Naming Services and NFS
16.5.3 NFS system
The NFS system is Sun's distributed computing file system. It is a network service that allows users to transparently access files and directories located on another disk on the network.
  • Distributed file system developed by Sun and embraced by industry as a standard
  • Enables computers of different architectures running different operating systems to access remote resources as if they were local
  • Uses standard network protocols (TCP, RPC, and XDR)

Benefits of NFS

  • Centralized files
    • Multiple computers can use same files
    • Useful with login directories or common data files
  • Common software
    • Systems can share software programs
  • Files appear to be local
    • Accessing files is transparent to user
    • Shared files can be made available at boot up or on the fly as needed (automounted)