1 ============ 1 ============
2 Introduction 2 Introduction
3 ============ 3 ============
4 4
5 This is the client VFS module for the SMB3 N 5 This is the client VFS module for the SMB3 NAS protocol as well
6 as for older dialects such as the Common Int 6 as for older dialects such as the Common Internet File System (CIFS)
7 protocol which was the successor to the Serv 7 protocol which was the successor to the Server Message Block
8 (SMB) protocol, the native file sharing mech 8 (SMB) protocol, the native file sharing mechanism for most early
9 PC operating systems. New and improved versi 9 PC operating systems. New and improved versions of CIFS are now
10 called SMB2 and SMB3. Use of SMB3 (and later 10 called SMB2 and SMB3. Use of SMB3 (and later, including SMB3.1.1
11 the most current dialect) is strongly prefer 11 the most current dialect) is strongly preferred over using older
12 dialects like CIFS due to security reasons. 12 dialects like CIFS due to security reasons. All modern dialects,
13 including the most recent, SMB3.1.1, are sup 13 including the most recent, SMB3.1.1, are supported by the CIFS VFS
14 module. The SMB3 protocol is implemented and 14 module. The SMB3 protocol is implemented and supported by all major
15 file servers such as Windows (including Wind 15 file servers such as Windows (including Windows 2019 Server), as
16 well as by Samba (which provides excellent C 16 well as by Samba (which provides excellent CIFS/SMB2/SMB3 server
17 support and tools for Linux and many other o 17 support and tools for Linux and many other operating systems).
18 Apple systems also support SMB3 well, as do 18 Apple systems also support SMB3 well, as do most Network Attached
19 Storage vendors, so this network filesystem 19 Storage vendors, so this network filesystem client can mount to a
20 wide variety of systems. It also supports mo 20 wide variety of systems. It also supports mounting to the cloud
21 (for example Microsoft Azure), including the 21 (for example Microsoft Azure), including the necessary security
22 features. 22 features.
23 23
24 The intent of this module is to provide the 24 The intent of this module is to provide the most advanced network
25 file system function for SMB3 compliant serv 25 file system function for SMB3 compliant servers, including advanced
26 security features, excellent parallelized hi 26 security features, excellent parallelized high performance i/o, better
27 POSIX compliance, secure per-user session es 27 POSIX compliance, secure per-user session establishment, encryption,
28 high performance safe distributed caching (l 28 high performance safe distributed caching (leases/oplocks), optional packet
29 signing, large files, Unicode support and ot 29 signing, large files, Unicode support and other internationalization
30 improvements. Since both Samba server and th 30 improvements. Since both Samba server and this filesystem client support the
31 CIFS Unix extensions, and the Linux client a 31 CIFS Unix extensions, and the Linux client also supports SMB3 POSIX extensions,
32 the combination can provide a reasonable alt 32 the combination can provide a reasonable alternative to other network and
33 cluster file systems for fileserving in some 33 cluster file systems for fileserving in some Linux to Linux environments,
34 not just in Linux to Windows (or Linux to Ma 34 not just in Linux to Windows (or Linux to Mac) environments.
35 35
36 This filesystem has a mount utility (mount.c 36 This filesystem has a mount utility (mount.cifs) and various user space
37 tools (including smbinfo and setcifsacl) tha 37 tools (including smbinfo and setcifsacl) that can be obtained from
38 38
39 https://git.samba.org/?p=cifs-utils.git 39 https://git.samba.org/?p=cifs-utils.git
40 40
41 or 41 or
42 42
43 git://git.samba.org/cifs-utils.git 43 git://git.samba.org/cifs-utils.git
44 44
45 mount.cifs should be installed in the direct 45 mount.cifs should be installed in the directory with the other mount helpers.
46 46
47 For more information on the module see the p 47 For more information on the module see the project wiki page at
48 48
49 https://wiki.samba.org/index.php/LinuxCI 49 https://wiki.samba.org/index.php/LinuxCIFS
50 50
51 and 51 and
52 52
53 https://wiki.samba.org/index.php/LinuxCI 53 https://wiki.samba.org/index.php/LinuxCIFS_utils
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