BKNFSILL.RVW   20000129

"NFS Illustrated", Brent Callaghan, 2000, 0-201-32570-5,
U$49.95/C$74.95
%A   Brent Callaghan
%C   P.O. Box 520, 26 Prince Andrew Place, Don Mills, Ontario M3C 2T8
%D   2000
%G   0-201-32570-5
%I   Addison-Wesley Publishing Co.
%O   U$49.95/C$74.95 416-447-5101 fax: 416-443-0948 bkexpress@aw.com
%P   513 p.
%T   "NFS Illustrated"

For simple network file and print services, the Network File System
(NFS) protocol is a basic cross-platform utility.  Frequently
referenced in networking texts, NFS is often not covered in detail. 
This work makes good that shortfall.

Chapter one provides a history, including a kind of family tree of
previous protocols.  External Data Representation (XDR), explained in
chapter two, is the data format used by NFS.  Open Network Computing
(ONC) Remote Procedure Calls (RPC) are outlined in chapter three. 
Chapter four discusses the various levels available for RPC
authentication.  The file system model and file/path name
considerations, are covered in chapter five.

Chapters six and seven detail the functions of NFS 2 and 3
respectively.  Common operations of implementations are dealt with in
chapter eight.  Chapter nine looks at the MOUNT protocol, chapter ten
the Lock Manager, and chapter eleven automounting.  Variants of NFS
are reviewed in chapter twelve.  Other distributed file systems are
discussed in chapter thirteen, including AFS (Andrew File System),
DCE/DFS (Distributed Computing Environment/Distributed File System),
and SMB/CIFS (Server Message Block/Common Internet File System). 
PCNFS is covered in chapter fourteen.  Chapter fifteen explains both
the considerations in, and programs for, NFS benchmarking.  WebNFS is
a simplified version, outlined in chapter sixteen.  The book closes in
chapter seventeen with discussion of the Internet requirements for
NFS 4, and the work going on in the Internet Engineering Task Force.

Callaghan's text is not bad, but it isn't particularly readable,
either.  The illustrations are sometimes more puzzling than
illuminating.  Overall, the book has the necessary information, but it
is demanding of the reader, and requires some application.

copyright Robert M. Slade, 2000   BKNFSILL.RVW   20000129