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In Telecommunication , the term file server has the following meanings:

  • A form of disk storage that hosts files within a network; file servers do not need to be high-end but must have enough disk space to incorporate a large amount of data. Many people mistake file servers for a high-end storage system, but in reality, file servers do not need to possess great power or super fast computer specifications.


  • A Computer Program , that allows different programs, running on other computers, to access the files of that computer


  • In common parlance, the term file server refers specifically to a computer on which a user can map or Mount a disk drive or Directory so that the directory appears to be on the machine at which the user is sitting. Additionally, on this type of file server, the user can read or write a file as though it were part of the file system of the user's computer.


Files and directories on the remote computer are usually accessed using a particular Protocol , such as WebDAV , SMB , CIFS , NFS , Appletalk or their mutations.

  • Although files can be sent to and received from most other computers unless their primary function is access by the above means, they are generally not considered file servers as such.




FILE AND PRINT


Traditionally, file and print services have been combined on the same computers due to similar computing requirements for both functions. Usually, such computers are distinct from application and database servers, which have different, usually more processor-intensive, requirements. However, as computing power increases and file serving requirements remain relatively constant, it is more common to see these functions combined on the same machine.


SECURITY

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 what is known as Directory Services such as Novell's EDirectory or Microsoft's Active Directory .

These servers work within the hierarchical computing environment which treat users, directories, 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 for large organizations. In the past, and in smaller organizations, authentication can take place directly to the server itself.


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