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Components of a Remote File System

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The following basic elements are required to implement a remote file system:

  • Network redirector software installed on the client.

  • A well-defined transport protocol used for communication.

  • File server software installed on the server.

For example, the Microsoft Network remote file system is implemented as follows:

  • The client for Microsoft Networks software provides the client network redirector components.

  • The Common Internet File System (CIFS), which is also called the Server Message Block (SMB) protocol, defines the network transport protocol used for communication.

  • The LAN Manager Server (sometimes called SMB Server) provides the file server service.

The network redirector software installed on the client consists of several software components, some that operate in user-mode and some that operate in kernel-mode.