A heterogeneous distributed file system

The demands on a heterogeneous distributed file system are outlined, and the design and implementation of a prototype to meet these demands are described. This prototype, the heterogeneous computer systems file system (HFS), provides a network-wide file system supporting a simple record-oriented file model. Through this standard file model, the HFS provides global access to files stored locally in many different file types. The HFS is implemented as a set of HFS servers, one running on each participating host. Each HFS server extends its host´s local file system by fielding remote requests for files stored locally, translating those requests into the appropriate local file system calls, and returning any information so obtained. This prototype HFS implementation is used on a network composed of VAX systems running Unix, Sun systems running 4.2BSD Unix, and Xerox Dandelions running XDE