Distributed file systems
Distributed file systems
Background
There are a number of different file systems for computer networks to make files available across computer boundaries. Many assume that the data is stored on a server and that the clients work on this one version. Newer file systems support caches and replication and thus allow better performance.
Job description
This paper is intended to provide an overview of the currently existing file systems and compare them with each other. Using a few examples (NFS, CIFS, AFS, Coda, Intermezzo, GFS, WebFS, ...), their practical suitability will be analysed and suggestions for improvements will be developed.
The following questions are in the background:
- Which file systems already exist and at what stage of development are they?
- Are the file systems computer-centred or user-centred?
- Which protection mechanisms are used?
In the practical part, a basic framework for our own distributed file systems will be developed. Its viability will be demonstrated by means of an own implementation.