2.2.1. File Sharing

Initially, document sharing was the essential motivation to have a network. Actually, small and medium size organizations in the mid-1980s regularly installed networks just to perform this task. Frequently, this was motivated by the need of to computerize their accounting systems. Obviously, once the networks were setup, sharing different sorts of documents got easier also.

Document sharing normally includes word processing files, spreadsheets, and different documents to which numerous individuals required normal access. It requires a shared folder or hard disk that numerous clients can access over the network, alongside the hidden programming rationale expected to ensure that more than one individual doesn't roll out changes to a document in the meantime (called file locking). The reason you don't need different individuals making changes to a document in the meantime is that they may both be doing clashing changes at the same time, without acknowledging it. Most software programs don't be able to permit different changes to a solitary document in the meantime and to determine issues that may emerge.

Network OSs that perform file sharing additionally manage the security for the shared documents. This security can control, with a fine level of point of interest that who has admittance to which document, and what sorts of access they have. For instance, a few clients may have authorization to see just certain common documents, while others have authority to alter or even erase certain shared documents.