The
Network File System (NFS) is a package of software programs
that allows you to mount the VSE file system to any other operating
system that runs an NFS client.
This means that your PC workstation, your UNIX server, and even
your VM system can access any VSE file system object as if that
VSE file is on that client’s disk drive. Since there are
implementations of NFS client for just about every operating system,
just about any computer in the world can use VSE files with standard
applications that do not perform any client server calls.
 NFS
Function
When your PC or Unix System installs an NFS
client, all input and output operations are intercepted. If the
request is designed for a VSE file, the operation is sent to the
NFS daemon running on VSE over your TCP/IP network. The Network
File System Daemon will then make the appropriate changes to the
VSE file. NFS for VSE supports I/O operations to VSE libraries,
VSAM files and the Power Data Queues.
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NFS
Daemon Operation
When the NFS daemon initializes, it obtains
a series of ‘mount
points’ and makes these available to any NFS client in the
TCP/IP network. This can include intranets or extranets of the
Internet. An NFS client then performs a mount operation and makes
the VSE file system appear to be part of the file system for the
operating system hosting the NFS client. You may choose to mount
all or just part of the VSE file structure. For example, you can
choose to only allow NFS clients to mount to the POWER queues or
you may choose to allow NFS clients access to any VSE file that
is defined to TCP/IP for VSE. The NFS daemon than waits for
requests from the NFS client. When it receives request, it
performs the I/O operation and sends the data back to NFS client
if necessary.
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NFS
Uses
Installing the Network File System Daemon adds
the following functionality to your VSE and networking environment:
• Client Server with no programming. You
can read and write VSE files with standard PC or Unix tools without
having to do any complicated client-server code. For example,
you can GREP against a VSE library or you can use Microsoft Word
or Excel to look at a Power Queue listing.
• Allow Web based access to
files without putting your VSE system on the net. With
NFS, your NT or Unix resident web browser can access VSE
data in CGI applications or in standard URLs without
having to put your VSE mainframe on the Internet.
• Removes the requirement
for end users to understand VSE files. With
NFS, people can use mainframe data without any understanding
that they are using VSAM, Libraries or Power. The fact that
the data is a mainframe resident is completely transparent
to end users.
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Summary
The Network File System
for VSE augments your TCP/IP
for VSE installation with data transparency to other systems
and ease of access to VSE data without requiring programming,
either at the client or the VSE based server.
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