Windows Server 2008 R2 provides administrators with
many different options to present file data to end users. These, of
course, include the traditional file sharing methods, but also include
presenting file data using web services. By default, Windows Server 2008
R2 systems running the File Services role support Windows 2000 clients
and later. To support legacy Windows clients, UNIX clients, or legacy
Apple Mac clients might require additional services and security
modifications to the data. Several of the options available for
presenting file data to end users are included in the proceeding
sections.
Windows Folder Sharing
This is the traditional
and most commonly used method to access server data using the server
message block (SMB) protocol over TCP/IP. Windows systems, many UNIX
systems, and current Apple Mac systems can access Microsoft servers
using this protocol. The path to access the data uses the Universal
Naming Convention (UNC) path of \\server\sharename.
Distributed File System
(DFS) Namespaces and Replication
This method utilizes
Windows folder sharing under a unified namespace. The main difference
between standard Windows Server folder sharing and DFS shares is that
the actual server name is masked by a unified name, commonly the Active
Directory domain name, but in some cases, a single server name and share
can be used to access data stored on several servers. Also with DFS,
the underlying data can be replicated or synchronized between servers.
One limitation of DFS is that the client accessing the DFS namespace
must be a DFS-aware client so it can utilize the benefits of DFS and, in
some cases, just locate and access the data.
WWW Directory
Publishing
Using this method,
administrators can make folders and files available through a web
browser for read and/or write operations. This can be a useful tool to
make files available to remote users with only Internet access. Some
common types of files typically published in websites can include
employee handbooks, time sheets, vacation requests, company quarterly
reports, and newsletters. Additionally, file publishing through the web
can be performed using Windows SharePoint Services and Microsoft Office
SharePoint Server. Microsoft Exchange 2007 and 2010 also enable
administrators to provide access to designated file shares through the
Outlook Web Access interface.
File Transfer Protocol
Service
The File Transfer Protocol
(FTP) service is one of the oldest services available to transfer files
between systems. FTP is still commonly used to make large files
available and to present remote users and customers alike with a simple
way to send data to the organization. FTP is very efficient, and that is
why it still has a place in today’s computer and network
infrastructure. Standard FTP, however, is not secure by default and
should only be used with secure and monitored connections. FTP is
compatible with most web browsers, making it very easy to include and
utilize links to FTP data within websites to improve file transfer
performance. Some common types of files typically made available using
FTP sites include company virtual private network (VPN) clients,
software packages, product manuals, and to present a repository for
customers and vendors to transfer reports, large databases, and other
types of data.
Secure File Transfer
Protocol (FTPS)
As
security becomes more and more of an expectation rather than a necessity
for a simple service, Microsoft supports Secure File Transfer Protocol,
or Secure FTP, for data transfer services. Using an encryption
algorithm for data security and integrity purposes, FTPS provides a
method to upload and download data with a significantly more secure FTPS
than was typically done in the past using unsecured FTP.
Windows SharePoint
Services (WSS)
Windows SharePoint Services
(WSS) can be used to present files in document libraries, but the data
is stored in Microsoft SQL databases and not in the file system. Because
WSS stores file data in SQL databases, separate backups are required
and the data stored in WSS is not directly accessible in the file
system, except in the form of web links. WSS does have some benefits to
managing file data, including document management features such as
version history, check-in and checkout functionality, and the ability to
notify users or groups when a document has been added, updated, or
removed from a WSS document library.
Services for NFS
In previous versions of
Windows, Services for NFS or Services for UNIX (SFU) included User Name
Mapping services, gateway for NFS, client for NFS, and server for PCNFS
(IBM’s implementation of NFS). With Windows Server 2008 R2, the only
components included are the client and server for NFS. Mapping UNIX
users to Active Directory users is now available as a feature of the
Identity Management for UNIX role services, which are part of the Active
Directory Domain Services role. Services for NFS allows UNIX systems
running the NFS protocol to access data stored on Windows Server 2008 R2
systems. Client for NFS allows the Windows system to access data stored
on UNIX systems running the NFS protocol.
Note
Most of the current UNIX
systems can access Windows systems using the Server Message Block
protocol.
Services for Mac
This service was removed
in Windows Server 2008 as current Apple Mac devices can connect to
Microsoft servers by default using the SMB protocol. To support legacy
Apple Mac clients, Windows administrators would need to deploy Windows
Server 2003 systems with file and/or print services for Mac installed or
provide alternate ways for Mac users to access data, such as FTP or web
access.
