How does AFS compare with NFS?
AFS NFS File Access Common name space from Different file names from all workstations different workstations File Location Automatic tracking by Mountpoints to files set by Tracking file system processes administrators and users and databases Performance Client caching to reduce No local disk caching; network load; callbacks limited cache consistency to maintain cache consis- tency Andrew Benchmark Average time of 210 Average time of 280 (5 phases, 8 clients) seconds/client seconds/client Scaling capabilities Maintains performance in Best in small to mid-size small and very large installations installations Excellent performance on Best in local-area wide-area configuration configurations Security Kerberos mutual authen- Security based on tication unencrypted user ID’s Access control lists on No access control lists directories for user and group access Availability Replicates read-mostly No replication data and AFS system information Backup Operation No system downtime with S
AFS NFS File Access Common name space from Different file names from all workstations different workstations File Location Automatic tracking by Mountpoints to files set by Tracking file system processes administrators and users and databases Performance Client caching to reduce No local disk caching; network load; callbacks limited cache consistency to maintain cache consis- tency Andrew Benchmark Average time of 210 Average time of 280 (5 phases, 8 clients) seconds/client seconds/client Scaling capabilities Maintains performance in Best in small to mid-size small and very large installations installations Excellent performance on Best in local-area wide-area configuration configurations Security Kerberos mutual authen- Security based on tication unencrypted user ID’s Access control lists on No access control lists directories for user and group access Availability Replicates read-mostly No replication data and AFS system information Backup Operation No system downtime with Standard U
