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The NFS alternative-an overview
The Network File System (NFS) is designed for sharing directories between Linux and Unix computers. NFS is native to Linux, so if you have only Linux and Unix computers on your LAN, it's more efficient to use NFS. You could set up a Samba network between Linux and Unix computers, but why install software that you don't really need? There are security issues associated with NFS, but you can protect an NFS LAN with an appropriate firewall.
But the point of this book is to set up communication on a network with Linux and Microsoft Windows computers, which is why I focus on Samba.
Microsoft does offer a way to communicate with NFS networks: Microsoft Services for Unix 3.0. For an additional $99 per computer, you can set up your Microsoft 32-bit Windows computers as clients and servers on an NFS network. However, this does not work for Microsoft Windows 9x without additional third-party software. It also does not work on the Microsoft Windows XP Home operating system.
Thus, unless you're willing to limit the Microsoft Windows clients on your network to Windows NT, 2000, and XP Professional, Microsoft Services for Unix is not a viable option. Therefore, I focus on Samba as a way to help Linux communicate on a network with Microsoft Windows computers.
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