Managing AFS: The Andrew File System

Designed to handle terabytes of data and thousands of users distributed across large networks, the Andrew File System (AFS) works as a Unix and Windows NT add-on that replaces the standard Network File System (NFS). The basic idea of AFS is that all users of a network get a common picture of the file system even though it represents data that's stored on many different machines. Originally developed at Carnegie Mellon University and now commercially promoted by Transarc Corporation, AFS has a solid presence in very large commercial networks. Its popularity seems likely to trickle down to midsize organizations as businesses of all kinds become more network-intensive.

Campbell's book takes the ponderous set of AFS documentation and distills it into a collection of task- and question-oriented segments. The book opens with an analysis of AFS architecture that will prove useful to those thinking about deploying AFS. Managing AFS then covers hardware requirements, volume structure decisions, and client administration in depth. Following a discussion of AFS's implementation of Kerberos security, Campbell gets into task-oriented discussions, covering groups, rights, archive procedures, and disaster recovery. One interesting chapter presents AFS case studies, highlighting how IBM, Morgan Stanley, and the University of Michigan are using the file system. An appendix details the various AFS command suites in a sort of abbreviated man-page format.

Throughout Managing AFS, the text is clear and readable--even entertaining. If you're wondering how AFS might work on your network or you want to know the easiest way to set up a user account, this book meets your needs.