NFS
Overview
Network File System (NFS) is a network filesystem protocol that lets a client access remote files as if they were local. It is OS-agnostic; different operating systems implement NFS clients/servers in their own stacks.
Versions (High Level)
NFSv3: stateless protocol model (commonly paired with auxiliary RPC services). NFSv4: more stateful, consolidates features, stronger security model (commonly used with Kerberos).
What NFS Provides
Remote mounts: a remote directory is mounted into a local path. Shared storage semantics: multiple clients can read/write the same export (locking/consistency depends on version and configuration).
Security Notes
Treat NFS exports as part of your trust boundary; misconfigured exports can leak data or allow privilege abuse.
root_squash vs no_root_squash is a major security lever on many setups.
Prefer authenticated/encrypted setups (e.g., Kerberos for NFSv4) when available.