Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!nih-csl!lhc!ncifcrf!haven!aplcen!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!newstop!jaytee!hinode!geoff
From: geoff@hinode.East.Sun.COM (Geoff Arnold @ Sun BOS - R.H. coast near the top)
Newsgroups: comp.protocols.tcp-ip.ibmpc
Subject: Re: PC-NFS
Message-ID: <2720@jaytee.East.Sun.COM>
Date: 26 Sep 90 12:51:43 GMT
References: <9009250038.AA11998@nms.>
Sender: news@jaytee.East.Sun.COM
Reply-To: geoff@east.sun.com (Geoff Arnold @ Sun BOS - R.H. coast near the top)
Organization: Sun Microsystems PC-NFS Engineering
Lines: 51

Quoth nestor@NMS.HLS.COM (Nestor Fesas) (in <9009250038.AA11998@nms.>):
#
#> 	I've been hearing a lot about PC-NFS, which I believe is a file
#> server scheme from SUN workstations(please correct me if I'm worng).
#>[...]
#> 	2)I assume it can run on a Packet driver?
#
#I don't know if SUN's PC-NFS supports packet drivers but FTP Software's
#PC/TCP with Interdrive (FTP's NFS implementation) does.  However,  keep
#in mind that the functionality you desire can be attained with NDIS as
#easily as it can with the Packet Drivers.  As such,  our ProLINC package
#can provide you with NFS connectivity over NDIS.

PC-NFS packet driver and NDIS support is available by downloading
our driver compatibility kit from Clarkson or elsewhere.
#
#> 	3)Where and how can it be obtained?
#
#PC-NFS can be obtained directly from SUN (I don't have their number),

It's 1-800-334-SUNM.

#> 		I was of the understanding that the software was
#> available public domain from some sites.  In fact I got a file called
#> sos_pkt.arc that talked in a readme file about being a PC-NFS server,
#> but alas I couldn't untar it.

Careful now. There are two beasts here: the NFS server, which provides
file services to any NFS client, PC or not, and the PCNFSD server,
which is provided to support user authentication and printing services
for NFS clients on certain low-end systems (not restricted to DOS
PC's).  PCNFSD is freely available, is frequently posted to various
newgroups and FTP sites, and I try to keep it up to date with
sugestions from all over the net. However, it is useless if the server
doesn't already support NFS.  Many Unix vendors bundle NFS into their
kernel, and there are implementations available on VMS, MVS, VM and
other systems.  There is also a reasonably portable user-level server
that is fairly widely available.

The use of NFS for PC/Unix interoperability is also the subject of an
X/Open Developer's Specification. It's entitled "Protocols for X/Open
PC Interworking: (PC)NFS", and it's available from X/Open Co. at a
price of $40. Their US number is 415-773-5383; in Europe call the UK
office at +44 734 508311.  The X/Open designation is XO/DEV/90/030; the
ISBN is 1 872630 00 6.  A companion volume on SMB protocols is
scheduled for release shortly.

-- Geoff Arnold, PC-NFS architect, Sun Microsystems. (geoff@East.Sun.COM)   --
   *** "Now is no time to speculate or hypothecate, but rather a time ***
   *** for action, or at least not a time to rule it out, though not  ***
   *** necessarily a time to rule it in, either." - George Bush       ***