How Does a File Server Work?

The File Server May Run Server Software

While there is a multitude of operating system platforms available for computers in the modern market, certain software packages are specially designed for use on machines functioning as servers. Windows Server, Mac OS Server, UNIX, and many flavors of Linux are designed with file server functionality in mind, making them ideal software platforms for building and configuring a file server. Network administrators often choose these software packages, though they are not necessarily required for use on a file server. Many network admins, especially on small or home networks, simply use standard OS packages for serving files.

The File Server is Equipped With Plenty of Storage Space

Because file servers exist for the purpose of storing and serving data files, they must be configured with tremendous amounts of storage space. Network administrators often equip file servers with large internal hard drives (one or more drives totaling more than a terabyte is common in modern networking), and may add external firewire or USB drives for additional storage. These drives are configured in the operating system to be "shared," or allow network users to connect and create, open, modify, and save files on the machine's drives.

Users Connect to the File Server

When the machine is properly configured and made public on the network, users may begin using the storage space available on the file server by "mapping" the drives on their own computers. Once users map the file server as a drive, the operating system software on the users' computer views and treats the file server as an additional drive. If the network administrator has properly configured the file server, permissions settings on the drives allow connected users to create, modify, and execute files directly from the server, essentially adding additional, shared storage space to each connected computer.