Introduction to NFS
Windows uses NetBIOS/SMB/CIFS for its file sharing, and Macintoshes use AppleTalk or AppleShare/IP. These are all peer-to-peer protocols, with each system broadcasting its presence onto the LAN, and all machines being able to mount each other’s shared folders dynamically. NFS is a bit different in that it’s a client/server protocol, with designated servers sharing items that can be mounted remotely by specified NFS clients. This model is designed for centralized file servers, as is common in enterprise or university networks, rather than for peer-to-peer file transfers. However, with the proper configuration, NFS can do almost everything that the other protocols can do, and more, with the exception of server discovery.
Under ...
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