226:– a specialized computer built from the ground up for serving files – rather than a general purpose computer being used for serving files (possibly with other functions). In discussions of NASs, the term "file server" generally stands for a contrasting term, referring to general purpose computers only.
280:
These servers work within the hierarchical computing environment which treat users, computers, applications and files as distinct but related entities on the network and grant access based on user or group credentials. In many cases, the directory service spans many file servers, potentially hundreds
229:
As of 2010 NAS devices are gaining popularity, offering a convenient method for sharing files between multiple computers. Potential benefits of network-attached storage, compared to non-dedicated file servers, include faster data access, easier administration, and simple configuration.
109:, that provide access to a shared database via a database device driver, are not regarded as file servers even when the database is stored in files, as they are not designed to provide those files to users and tend to have differing technical requirements.
44:
scheme, where the clients are the workstations using the storage. A file server does not normally perform computational tasks or run programs on behalf of its client workstations (in other words, it is different from e.g. an
39:
access, i.e. storage of computer files (such as text, image, sound, video) that can be accessed by workstations within a computer network. The term server highlights the role of the machine in the traditional
125:, and budget. This is further complicated by a constantly changing environment, where new hardware and technology rapidly obsolesces old equipment, and yet must seamlessly come online in a fashion
241:
arrays. Network
Attached Storage removes the responsibility of file serving from other servers on the network. They typically provide access to files using network file sharing protocols such as
64:
A file server may be dedicated or non-dedicated. A dedicated server is designed specifically for use as a file server, with workstations attached for reading and writing files and
361:
261:
File servers generally offer some form of system security to limit access to files to specific users or groups. In large organizations, this is a task usually delegated to
1005:
541:
674:
141:
may utilize queuing theory to model how the combination of hardware and software will respond over various levels of demand. Servers may also employ dynamic
168:
Since the crucial function of a file server is storage, technology has been developed to operate multiple disk drives together as a team, forming a
998:
397:
332:
File and Work
Transfers in Cyclic Queue Systems, D. Sarkar and W. I. Zangwill, Management Science, Vol. 38, No. 10 (Oct., 1992), pp. 1510–1523
634:
534:
667:
598:
1119:
991:
281:
for large organizations. In the past, and in smaller organizations, authentication could take place directly at the server itself.
527:
660:
242:
100:
342:
1114:
117:
In modern businesses, the design of file servers is complicated by competing demands for storage space, access speed,
390:
142:
915:
83:, that often provide dynamic web content in addition to static files). Servers on a LAN are usually accessed by
1080:
502:
301:
205:
71:
File servers may also be categorized by the method of access: Internet file servers are frequently accessed by
719:
713:
707:
701:
219:
295:
222:
group of clients. NAS devices specifically are distinguished from file servers generally in a NAS being a
181:
126:
72:
148:
The primary piece of hardware equipment for servers over the last couple of decades has proven to be the
924:
886:
492:
456:
440:
406:
383:
250:
211:
176:(temporary memory storage that is faster than the magnetic disks), as well as advanced functions like
898:
862:
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580:
507:
420:
307:
193:
84:
971:
1014:
435:
262:
237:
containing one or more hard drives, often arranged into logical, redundant storage containers or
234:
223:
157:
53:
46:
41:
1074:
892:
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92:
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466:
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274:
215:
32:
959:
683:
586:
430:
149:
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36:
160:) disk drives have continued to offer the best fit for cost, performance, and capacity.
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616:
562:
134:
118:
1108:
628:
568:
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1068:
1062:
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622:
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1056:
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346:
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80:
965:
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838:
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983:
52:
File servers are commonly found in schools and offices, where users use a
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scheme to distribute requests across various pieces of hardware.
815:
809:
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246:
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88:
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656:
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750:
16:
Computer that provides file systems in a computer network
188:
by using redundant components other than RAID, such as
152:. Although other forms of storage are viable (such as
192:. Disk arrays may be consolidated or virtualized in a
1049:
1022:
952:
914:
831:
799:
749:
729:
691:
485:
449:
413:
247:Server Message Block/Common Internet File System
999:
668:
535:
391:
210:Network-attached storage (NAS) is file-level
8:
1006:
992:
984:
675:
661:
653:
542:
528:
520:
398:
384:
376:
184:. Typically disk arrays increase level of
325:
129:with the older machinery. To manage
7:
49:, which is another type of server).
56:to connect their client computers.
14:
414:Fundamental storage technologies
172:. A disk array typically has
103:protocol (Unix-like systems).
1:
441:Uncommon storage technologies
362:"NAS Advantages: A VARs View"
35:that provides a location for
360:Ron Levine (April 1, 1998).
345:(in Polish). Archived from
218:providing data access to a
1136:
233:NAS systems are networked
203:
121:, ease of administration,
916:Magneto-optic Kerr effect
558:
516:
1120:Computer storage devices
1081:Optical mark recognition
503:Network-attached storage
302:Network-attached storage
206:Network-attached storage
200:Network-attached storage
79:(but are different from
296:File Transfer Protocol
182:storage virtualization
113:Design of file servers
73:File Transfer Protocol
212:computer data storage
60:Types of file servers
508:Storage area network
450:Related technologies
421:Semiconductor memory
308:Server Message Block
1115:Servers (computing)
1015:Paper data storage
436:Paper data storage
263:directory services
224:computer appliance
158:solid-state drives
133:, peak loads, and
54:local area network
47:application server
1102:
1101:
1096:
1095:
1075:Edge-notched card
981:
980:
731:Professional Disc
650:
649:
493:Networked storage
1127:
1008:
1001:
994:
985:
677:
670:
663:
654:
551:Magnetic storage
544:
537:
530:
521:
467:Data compression
426:Magnetic storage
400:
393:
386:
377:
370:
369:
357:
351:
350:
339:
333:
330:
275:Active Directory
216:computer network
107:Database servers
19:In computing, a
1135:
1134:
1130:
1129:
1128:
1126:
1125:
1124:
1105:
1104:
1103:
1098:
1097:
1092:
1045:
1018:
1012:
982:
977:
960:Laser turntable
948:
910:
827:
795:
745:
725:
687:
684:Optical storage
681:
651:
646:
554:
548:
518:
512:
486:Network storage
481:
445:
431:Optical storage
409:
404:
374:
373:
359:
358:
354:
341:
340:
336:
331:
327:
322:
287:
273:or Microsoft's
259:
214:connected to a
208:
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166:
150:hard disk drive
115:
62:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1133:
1131:
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1011:
1010:
1003:
996:
988:
979:
978:
976:
975:
969:
963:
956:
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953:Optical Assist
950:
949:
947:
946:
940:
934:
928:
921:
919:
912:
911:
909:
908:
902:
896:
890:
884:
878:
872:
866:
860:
854:
853:(20th century)
848:
847:(20th century)
842:
835:
833:
829:
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826:
825:
819:
813:
806:
804:
797:
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372:
371:
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349:on 2010-10-17.
334:
324:
323:
321:
318:
317:
316:
311:
305:
299:
293:
286:
283:
258:
255:
204:Main article:
201:
198:
190:power supplies
165:
162:
143:load balancing
119:recoverability
114:
111:
61:
58:
31:attached to a
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1132:
1121:
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1070:
1067:
1064:
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1038:
1036:(c. 3000 BCE)
1035:
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1028:
1027:
1025:
1021:
1016:
1009:
1004:
1002:
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989:
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721:
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621:
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531:
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509:
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439:
437:
434:
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429:
427:
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419:
418:
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412:
408:
401:
396:
394:
389:
387:
382:
381:
378:
367:
363:
356:
353:
348:
344:
343:"CDRLab test"
338:
335:
329:
326:
319:
315:
312:
309:
306:
303:
300:
297:
294:
292:
289:
288:
284:
282:
278:
276:
272:
268:
264:
256:
254:
252:
248:
244:
240:
236:
231:
227:
225:
221:
220:heterogeneous
217:
213:
207:
199:
197:
195:
191:
187:
183:
179:
175:
171:
163:
161:
159:
155:
154:magnetic tape
151:
146:
144:
140:
136:
135:response time
132:
128:
124:
120:
112:
110:
108:
104:
102:
98:
94:
90:
86:
82:
78:
74:
69:
67:
59:
57:
55:
50:
48:
43:
42:client–server
38:
34:
30:
26:
22:
1069:Punched card
1063:Punched tape
851:Optical disc
845:Optical tape
832:Discontinued
801:Compact disc
581:Ferrite core
497:
462:File systems
407:Data storage
365:
355:
347:the original
337:
328:
279:
260:
245:, SMB/CIFS (
232:
228:
209:
186:availability
167:
147:
116:
105:
70:
63:
51:
24:
20:
18:
1065:(mid-1800s)
623:Floppy disk
593:Stripe card
498:File server
269:, Novell's
91:protocol (
81:web servers
37:shared disk
21:file server
1109:Categories
1057:Index card
472:Encryption
320:References
271:eDirectory
265:, such as
235:appliances
170:disk array
131:throughput
127:compatible
25:fileserver
1023:Antiquity
972:Super DLT
966:Floptical
857:LaserDisc
839:Microform
641:Racetrack
605:Thin film
587:Hard disk
97:Unix-like
66:databases
1042:(105 CE)
931:MiniDisc
881:DataPlay
790:DVD-R DL
784:DVD+R DL
720:BD-RE XL
457:Robotics
366:InfoStor
285:See also
267:openLDAP
257:Security
123:security
29:computer
1087:Barcode
1083:(1930s)
1071:(1880s)
1059:(1640s)
1034:papyrus
1030:Writing
937:MD Data
927:(1980s)
925:MO disc
893:ProData
714:BD-R XL
693:Blu-ray
631:(~1970)
619:(~1968)
617:Twistor
164:Storage
139:vendors
93:Windows
33:network
27:) is a
1089:(1948)
1077:(1904)
1050:Modern
974:(1998)
968:(1991)
962:(1986)
945:(2004)
939:(1993)
933:(1992)
918:(1877)
907:(2006)
905:HD DVD
901:(2004)
895:(2003)
889:(2003)
883:(2002)
877:(1999)
875:MIL-CD
871:(1997)
869:GD-ROM
865:(1979)
859:(1978)
841:(1870)
824:(1997)
818:(1991)
812:(1988)
803:(1982)
792:(2005)
786:(2004)
780:(2002)
774:(2001)
772:DVD+RW
768:(1999)
766:DVD-RW
762:(1997)
753:(1995)
742:(2004)
733:(2003)
722:(2010)
716:(2010)
710:(2006)
704:(2006)
695:(2006)
643:(2008)
637:(1995)
629:Bubble
625:(1969)
613:(1962)
607:(1962)
601:(1956)
595:(1956)
589:(1956)
583:(1949)
577:(1932)
571:(1928)
565:(1898)
314:WebDAV
291:Backup
249:), or
75:or by
1040:Paper
1017:media
943:Hi-MD
822:CD-RW
778:DVD+R
760:DVD-R
708:BD-RE
686:media
553:media
310:(SMB)
304:(NAS)
298:(FTP)
174:cache
99:) or
863:WORM
816:CD-i
810:CD-R
702:BD-R
635:MRAM
611:CRAM
599:MICR
575:Drum
569:Tape
563:Wire
477:RAID
239:RAID
180:and
178:RAID
156:and
95:and
89:CIFS
77:HTTP
23:(or
1032:on
899:UMD
887:UDO
751:DVD
740:PDD
251:AFP
243:NFS
194:SAN
101:NFS
85:SMB
1111::
364:.
277:.
253:.
196:.
137:,
68:.
1007:e
1000:t
993:v
676:e
669:t
662:v
543:e
536:t
529:v
399:e
392:t
385:v
368:.
87:/
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