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Old 12-05-2013, 03:20 PM   #1
gmathisz
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Post NFS vs SMB on NAS


Hello,

I have a NAS from Buffalo Tech. that supports both SAMBA and NFS. It seems to be powered by a Linux kernel. I intend to access it from both Windows 7 and Linux. What would be the correct approach for inter-compatibility when setting it up for access from both Windows and Linux, should the machines connect using NFS or SAMBA on the NAS. I don't mind using both but I'd prefer using only one of the two services on the NAS.

As a more generic question in a mix environment where the server is Linux powered and provides storage space to both Linux and Windows 7 and up clients what protocol should the clients use to access the shared storage space, NFS, CIFS, SMBFS or something else?
 
Old 12-06-2013, 08:24 AM   #2
michaelk
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SMB/CIFS is the native windows protocol for file and printer sharing, cifs is the file system type for mounting windows shares whether it is a real windows computer or a samba server. In a nutshell smbfs file system is depreciated.

nfs is the linux native protocol for file sharing and nfs being the file system type. Windows 7 does have a nfs client but I've have yet to try it out. In a mixed network I would probably just using samba.

http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/li...l-lpic3-314-1/
 
Old 12-06-2013, 01:31 PM   #3
gmathisz
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Thank you michaelk for the link and the explanation.
 
Old 12-08-2013, 11:39 PM   #4
propofol
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You can use nfs, I believe this is the link to download it: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/downl...s.aspx?id=2391
 
Old 12-09-2013, 01:48 AM   #5
TobiSGD
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Quote:
Originally Posted by propofol View Post
You can use nfs, I believe this is the link to download it: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/downl...s.aspx?id=2391
Keep in mind that this software package can only be used with the server editions of Windows or the Enterprise and Ultimatte Editions of the desktop Windows versions.
It will not work with the Starter or Home Edition.
 
Old 12-09-2013, 10:57 AM   #6
psycroptic
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here's a standalone nfs client for all versions of Windows, i haven't tried it
http://labf.com/nfsaxe/

also, NFS is a rather faster protocol when dealing with low bandwidth and/or high/random latency than is SMB. without getting into specifics, SMB creates much more network traffic than NFS (or many other protocols like HTTP, FTP, etc) to transfer a single file, so if you ever plan on streaming from the NAS over the internet NFS would be much preferable. on the LAN you shouldn't notice a difference.
 
Old 12-09-2013, 08:22 PM   #7
moyam01
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You can run both. I've always found that SMB is a little more friendly to interrupts than NFS. For example if you are on a laptop using wifi, or stop and resume the computer, you have to force unmount the NFS share, while SMB just keeps going.
 
  


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