What Is a File Server?

File server, also known as file server, refers to a file storage device accessible to all users in a computer network environment. It is a special computer designed for other computers to retrieve files and store files. ^{[1-2] The} file server usually has a larger storage capacity than ordinary personal computers, and has some other functions, such as disk mirroring, multiple network interface cards, and hot standby multiple power supplies. File servers have evolved into high-performance systems with RAID storage subsystems and other high-availability features. The file server enhances the storage function and simplifies the management of network data. On the one hand, the performance of the system is improved, the availability of data is improved, on the other hand, the complexity of management is reduced, and the operating costs are reduced.

In the guest and server mode, the file server is a computer responsible for central storage and data file management, so that other computers on the same network can access these files. File servers allow users to share information on the network without physically moving files through floppy disks or some other external storage device. Any computer can be set up as a host and run as a file server. In its simplest form, a file server can be an ordinary personal computer that processes file requests and sends them across the network. In more complex networks, the file server can also be a dedicated network-attached storage (NAS) device, which can also operate as a remote hard drive for other computers and allow people on the network to act as if they were on their own hard drives Store files on the server. The file server has

The file server provides a central location on the network where users can store files and share files with other users over the network. The file server is responsible for the management, delivery, and reception of shared resources, manages files in storage devices (hard disks, optical disks, and tapes), and provides file sharing services for network users, also known as file sharing servers. ^[4]

According to whether distributed technology is used, file servers can be divided into two categories: centralized file servers and distributed file servers. In fact, there is no clear boundary between centralized and distributed file servers, and it can be said that it is just a replacement caused by technological progress. If only a single distributed file server is deployed in the storage environment, it is also a centralized file server. ^[1]

The following describes how to install a file server in Windows Server 2003:

Step 1. Log in to the Windows Server 2003 (SP1) system as the system administrator, and click the "Administrative Tools" "Manage Your Server" menu item in the Start menu to open the "Manage Your Server" window. Click the "Add or Remove Roles" button in the "Add Roles to Your Server" area to enter the configuration wizard and click the "Next" button.

Step 2. After the configuration wizard finishes detecting the network settings, if you are using the wizard for the first time, you will enter the Configuration Options dialog box. Check the "Custom configuration" radio box and click the "Next" button.

Step 3. Open the Server Role dialog box, select the File Server option in the Server Role list, and click the Next button.

Step 4. In the "File Server Disk Quota" dialog box that opens, select the "Set a default disk space quota for new users of this server" checkbox and set the "Limit disk space to "And set the warning level to" edit boxes and enter appropriate values (such as 500M). In addition, select the Deny disk space to users who exceed the quota limit check box to prevent users from writing data to the server after their used disk space reaches the limit. Click the "Next" button.

Step 5. In the "File Server Indexing Service" dialog box, select the "Yes, enable indexing service" radio box to enable the indexing service for shared folders. Click the "Next" button.

Tip: The indexing service has a large overhead on server resources. It is recommended to enable this service only when users need to search the shared folder frequently.

Step 6. Open the "Select Summary" dialog box, confirm the settings are correct, and click the "Next" button.

Step 7. The Add Wizard starts to enable the selected service. After completion, the Shared Folder Wizard dialog box will automatically open. Click the "Next" button.

Step 8. In the "Folder Path" dialog box, click the "Browse" button to open the "Browse Folder" dialog box. Find the folder to be set as a public resource on the local disk, and click "OK" "Next" button.

Step 9. Open the "Name, Description, and Settings" dialog, where you can set the share name and the language that describes the shared folder. After setting, click the "Next" button.

Step 10. In the "Permissions" dialog box that opens, select the "Administrators have full access permissions; other users have read-only access permissions" radio box, and click the "Finish" button.

Step 11. Open the "Share successfully" dialog box, and the shared folder path, share name, and share path are displayed in the "Summary" text box. The share name and share path are used to announce to network users. Just click the "Close" button.