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AFS Glossary

   
 
         
      access control list: A list associated with an AFS directory that specifies what actions a user or group is permitted to perform on the directory and its files.

acl: See access control list.

acl entry: An entry on an ACL that pairs one user or group of users with specific AFS access permissions. An entry can be normal, granting the user or group the specific permissions, or negative, denying the user or group the specific permissions.

afs: See Andrew File System.

afs uid: An identification number assigned to each AFS user and group. It is guaranteed to be unique.

Andrew File System: A file service that joins the local file systems of several File Server machines. Files are stored (distributed) on different machines in the computer network but are accessible from all machines.

authenticated: The state of a principal whose identity has been verified by AFS.

authentication: Verification that a user or process is presenting a valid identity. Authentication involves certifying that a password provided by the user is correct.

cache manager: The portion of an AFS Client machine that communicates with AFS server processes by translating file requests made locally into remote procedure calls. It stores the requested files in a cache on the local disk, from which it makes the files available to local users.

cell: An administratively independent site using AFS and consisting of a set of File Server machines and client machines. A machine can belong to only one cell at a time.

file server: A type of machine in AFS used to store files and transfer requested files to client machines.

foreign cell: An AFS cell other than the one to which the local (client) machine belongs. The local machine's cell is referred to as the local cell.

local cell: The cell to which the local client machine belongs. Even though a user can authenticate in a foreign cell or fetch files from it, the identity of the local cell remains the same throughout a logon session.

mount point: A special type of directory that connects a location in the AFS filespace with a volume. A mount point looks like a standard directory; listing the directory shows the contents of the volume. Each mount point corresponds to a single volume.

network drive: A connection to the hard drive of a remote computer, allowing you to access shared files and directories. You can establish a network drive connection to a directory in the AFS filespace.

partition: A logical section of a disk in a computer.

password: A unique, user-defined string of characters that validate the user's system identity. The user must enter the password to become authenticated.

quota: The size limit of a volume assigned by the system administrator and measured in kilobyte blocks.

token: A set of data that is granted after a user authenticates to AFS. A token is used by the Cache Manager when requesting services from AFS servers. A token has an associated lifetime and expires after a set period of time. If your token expires, you no longer have authenticated access to AFS. The standard token lifetime is 25 hours.

unauthenticated: The state of a principal whose identity is not known to AFS.

username: The name a user types in when authenticating that uniquely identifies the user in the local cell. It is mapped to the user's AFS UID.

volume: A "container" that keeps a set of related files and directories together on a disk partition that is specific to AFS.

volume location server: An AFS server process that maintains the Volume Location Database, which records location and other status information about all volumes in the cell.
If you do not remember the commands, type add at the shell prompt (eos%, unity%, etc.) to list the programs and the commands to execute them. When a program is added, a message usually appears telling you what command to use to execute (bring up) the program.

from AFS 3.0 User's Guide, Transarc Corporation, FS-30-0-D101, April 1990.

   
         

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