Accessing a vFiler unit's file system with CIFS and NFS

Accessing a file system with CIFS

For CIFS clients, the root of the primary storage qtree is the root ("/") of a vFiler unit's file system. If "/" is shared, a CIFS client mapping to it can browse all of the vFiler unit's storage in a single tree. This mechanism is called the vFiler unit's "pseudo-root."

In the example Sample vFiler unit, the root of vFiler1's file system is /vol/vol0/qtree1. If "/" is shared, CIFS clients can browse all of /vol/vol0/qtree1 and /vol/vol1.

Accessing a file system with NFS

Pseudo-root directories are not available to NFS clients. NFS clients must import discrete storage units as they are defined on the hosting storage system.

In the example Sample vFiler unit, NFS clients needing access to all of vFiler1 storage must import /vol/vol0/qtree1 and /vol/vol1 separately, and will not see a tree connecting them. But administrators of NFS clients can see a list of all of the storage units owned by a vFiler unit in the vFiler unit's /etc/vfilerstorage file.