DiskAccess Overview

This chapter introduces you to the basic concepts and features of Shaffer Solutions’ DiskAccess for the Microsoft Windows 9x, Windows NT, Windows 2000 or Windows XP operating systems.

1.1 DiskAccess Defined

DiskAccess is a software product that enables users to share files in a mixed environment of computers, operating systems, and networks. DiskAccess software lets a computer running the Microsoft Windows 9x, Windows NT, Windows 2000 or Windows XP operating system act as a client to a Network File System (NFS) server.

Users on systems running NFS software (the clients) can gain access to files (the shares) on the NFS server by connecting (mounting) those files to their systems. Once mounted, files on the NFS server are treated as if they are on the client system. From the viewpoint of the user on a client system, the mounted files are indistinguishable from files on the user’s system.

DiskAccess uses the Remote Procedure Call (RPC) protocol upon which NFS relies to make remote procedure calls (from client systems) appear to run locally (on the client). DiskAccess also uses the External Data Representation (XDR) protocol to ensure portable data transmission between NFS client and NFS server.

1.2 Using DiskAccess

After installing and configuring DiskAccess on your Windows 9x, Windows NT, Windows 2000 or Windows XP system, use DiskAccess to connect to an NFS server. Specifically, use DiskAccess to accomplish the following tasks:

Mount directories and files on the NFS server and use them as if they were local files and directories.
Set file permissions for the files you create on the NFS server.
Select a server running the Network Information System (NIS) or the PC-NFS daemon (PCNFSD) for user authentication.
Use a local cache to increase the speed of read operations and to store remote directory trees and file attributes on the client.
Use a remote cache on the server to increase the response time of the server (for NFS Version 3 servers only).

1.3 DiskAccess Features

DiskAccess software provides the following features:

I. Transparent access and sharing of NFS-based files and directories, which include the following:

Ability to mount, unmount, and browse networked NFS directories as if they were local computer files and directories.
Support for NFS file locking.
Login and authentication server selection for remote NFS-based systems.
Tools for obtaining information about NFS and Remote Procedure Call (RPC) operations on remote systems.

II. Full support of native Windows 9x Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), which provides the following:

Compatibility with all Microsoft supported networking devices such as Token Ring and Ethernet.
Utilities for accessing network services such as File Transfer Protocol (FTP), Network Time Protocol (NTP), Domain Name System (DNS) Query, Ping, and Finger.
Remote terminal connection.

III. Full support of native Windows Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), which provides the following:

Compatibility with all Microsoft supported networking devices such as Token Ring and Ethernet boards.
Utilities for accessing network services such as File Transfer Protocol (FTP), Network Time Protocol (NTP), Domain Name System (DNS) Query, Ping, and Finger.
NTP and Remote Shell (RSH) server capabilities.
Remote terminal connection.

IV. A program for converting text files between DOS and UNIX format.

For further information on these features, refer to the Help documentation delivered with DiskAccess. A list of available Help documentation is provided in the Additional Information section in the Preface to this document.

1.4 DiskAccess Components

DiskAccess software consists of Explorer, Network Neighborhood and My Network Places functions, a Control Panel-based configuration program, and various utility programs.

1.4.1 Explorer, and Network Neighborhood Functions

DiskAccess software lets you access remote NFS file systems directly through the Explorer, Network Neighborhood or My Network Places. You can use the standard Explorer, Network Neighborhood, or My Network Places commands to connect to and disconnect from remote directories. Windows display the remote directories that you are connected to. Use the standard Explorer, Network Neighborhood, or My Network Places commands and drag-and-drop features to copy, move, rename, and delete remote files.

1.4.2 Configuration Program

DiskAccess software includes a configuration program integrated into the Windows Control Panel. This configuration program lets you configure base default NFS settings for your DiskAccess sessions.

1.4.3 Utility Programs

DiskAccess software includes some graphical utility programs that run independently from other DiskAccess components.

DiskAccess (for Windows 9x , Windows NT, and Windows 2000) is delivered with the following utility programs:

NTP Client (WNTP.EXE)	A graphical NTP program for synchronizing your computer's system clock with a remote NTP server.
Show Mounts (SHOWMNT.EXE)	A graphical program for displaying information about available and mounted resources on NFS network servers.
RPC Information (RPCADM.EXE)	A graphical program for displaying information about RPC programs on network systems.
FTP (WFTP.EXE)	A graphical program for transferring files to and from a remote system that is running an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) service.
Telnet 3270 (GR3270.EXE)	A graphical program for making a Telnet3270 connection to a remote IBM mainframe system. GR3270.EXE provides enhanced 3270 terminal emulator functions and support for graphics applications. This utility is provided ‘as is’ as a convenience for our Users and fixes are no longer provided.
Telnet (WTELNET.EXE)	A graphical program for connecting to a remote network system using the Telnet protocol. You can use Telnet to log in to a remote system from your computer and work on that system as if you are logged into it directly.
Telnet 5250 (GR5250.EXE)	A graphical program for making a Telnet5250 connection to a remote IBM mainframe system. GR5250.EXE provides enhanced 5250 terminal emulator functions and support for graphics applications. This utility is provided ‘as is’ as a convenience for our Users and fixes are no longer provided.
DNS Query (WDIG.EXE)	A graphical program for gathering information about a system that is a member of a Domain Name System domain.
Ping (wping.EXE)	A graphical program for determining if a network host is online.
Finger (Wfinger.EXE)	A graphical program for obtaining information about a user on a remote server.
Dos2Unix(CVTCRLF.EXE)	A graphical program for converting text files to/from DOS/UNIX format..

DiskAccess includes the following additional utilities for a Windows NT/2000 system:

Network Services

A graphical program for synchronizing remote system clocks, and the RSH server utility for enabling remote command access.

For further information on these utility programs and their use, refer to the Help documentation delivered with DiskAccess. A list of available Help documentation is provided in the Additional Information section in the Preface to this document.

1.5 Getting Started

Begin by following the instructions in chapter 2, Installing and Configuring DiskAccess, to install and configure the DiskAccess software on your system. Refer to other chapters of the document as follows for more information:

To remove the DiskAccess software from your system, refer to chapter 2, Installing and Configuring DiskAccess.
To log on to and log off a remote system from a DiskAccess client, refer chapter 3, Gaining Access to Resources.
To mount directories and files, specify the types of file access, change filename case, and enable mounting options, refer to chapter 3, Gaining Access to Resources.