Introduction

NFS, or the Network File System (NFS), provides remote access to shared file systems across networks. Designed to be machine, operating system, network architecture, and transport protocol independent, NFS enables the export or mounting of directories to other machines, either on or off a local network. These directories can then be accessed as though they were local.

NFS uses a client/server architecture and consists of a client program, a server program, and a protocol used to communicate between the two. The server program makes filesystems available for access by other machines via a process called exporting. File systems that are available for access across the network are often referred to as shared file systems.

In environments spanning multiple private networks, the NFS plays a significant role in making critical file systems accessible to users across networks. Since users expect to access these shared file systems just as swiftly and effortlessly as they would the local ones, even the slightest of access delays can put him/her off. To ensure that the user experience with NFS remains pleasant, the client-server interaction of NFS should be continuously monitored.

eG Enterprise  provides distinct monitoring models for monitoring the NFS server and client on Solaris and Linux, which measure the effectiveness of the server program as well as the experience of the client.

For detailed discussion on the distinct monitoring models, refer to the following pages;