perspective. NFSCIFS (SMB) 1 BackgroundNFS was first introduced by Sun Microsystems in the early 1980s and was quickly adopted as the de facto standard for sharing files and printers between UNIX systems. This standard was extended to include PCs and became the basis for most transparent file and print connectivity software solutions.SMB was introduced as a PC networking standard by Microsoft in the early 1980s. It is the Microsoft native method of allowing file and print sharing among network users. Modern connectivity solutions have extended CIFS capabilities to allow UNIX systems to function as CIFS servers. NFSCIFS (SMB)2 Connectivity ModelThe NFS approach allows PCs to work within a UNIX-oriented network by adding NFS client technology to PCs.This "Windows Way" approach of CIFS allows UNIX to function as a native Windows server. This means that UNIX resources simply show up in the existing PC network.3 Connectivity Model (continued)The NFS model requires that NFS client software be loaded on each PC on the network.A CIFS software server is simply added to any UNIX server on the network. No additional software needs to be loaded on the PCs to get transparent file and print services.4 Connectivity Model (continued)Advantage: NFS is distributed as an extension to most versions of the UNIX operating system.Advantage: CIFS is native operating system technology in Windows 98/95, NT and Windows for Workgroups. Loading a CIFS server on any UNIX host on the network makes all network resources available to users (provided they have permission to use them).5 Connectivity Model (continued)Disadvantage: Requiring NFS to be loaded on each PC in the network is time consuming for the System Administrator (20-30 minutes per PC to load & configure), and adds system overhead to the PC as well as the network. Also, NFS requires an invasive, kernel level installation on each PC. Even more problematic, on-going maintenance and updates must...
