 - A distributed file system is a client/server-based application
that allows clients to access and process data stored
on the server as if it were on their own computer. When
a user accesses a file on the server, the server sends the user a copy
of the file, which is cached on the user's computer while
the data is being processed and is then returned to the server.
Ideally, a distributed file system organizes file and directory services
of individual servers into a global directory in such a way that remote
data access is not location-specific but is identical from any client. All
files are accessible to all users of the global file system and organization
is hierarchical and directory-based. Since more than one client may access
the same data simultaneously, the server must have a mechanism in place
(such as maintaining information about the times of access) to organize
updates so that the client always receives the most current version of
data and that data conflicts do not arise. Distributed file systems typically
use file or database replication (distributing copies of data on multiple
servers) to protect against data access failures.
Sun Microsystems' Network File System (NFS), Novell NetWare,
Microsoft's Distributed File System, and IBM/Transarc's DFS are some examples
of distributed file systems.
| CONTRIBUTORS: |
Geoffrey Tiblin |
| LAST UPDATED: |
02 Apr 2003
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