Chapter 17: Setting Up a File Server
In This Chapter
- Setting up an NFS file server in Linux
- Setting up a Samba file server in Linux
When groups of people need to work together on projects, they usually need to share documents. Likewise, it can be efficient for groups of people on a computer network to share common applications and directories of information needed to do their jobs. A common way to store files centrally and share them on a network is by setting up a file server.
Fedora systems include support for each of the most common file server protocols in use today. The Network File System (NFS) has been a file-sharing protocol for decades on Unix and Linux systems. Networks with many Windows computers tend to use Samba, or SMB/CIFS (Server Message Block/Common Internet File System) protocol. Samba can help make your Linux systems fit seamlessly, or near seamlessly, into Windows-centric networks. This chapter describes how to set up file servers and clients associated with NFS and Samba in Linux.
Cross-Reference
One other type of file server is also described in this book: FTP (using vsFTPd). To set up public FTP file servers, refer to Chapter 19.
Goals of Setting Up a File Server
By centralizing data and applications on a file server, you can accomplish several goals:
- Centralized distribution — You can add documents or applications to one location where they will be accessible to any authorized computer or user. This way, you don’t have to be responsible for placing ...
