Isn the file server the weak link in the chain?
Because this is true in principle, professionally administered systems usually invest a big chunk of their capital in highly reliable file server hardware and backup systems. On our system, files are accessed from an Auspex network file server, rated for one hour or less downtime per year. Reliability is obtained through features such as redundant storage of data through RAID technology, redundant network interfaces, multiple CPUs, hot-pluggable disk drives, and automated backups. Remember, the hard drive on your PC is probably the cheapest one the manufacturer could install.
