Meaning – The term file server, refers to the high-capacity disk storage device or a computer that each computer on a network can use to access and retrieve files that can be shared among the attached computers; for example, an IBM 5170 Personal Computer AT used to serve files on a network. Access to a file is usually controlled by the file serverís software rather than by the operating system of the computer that accesses the file.
A file server may be a dedicated system, such as network-attached storage (NAS) device, or it may simply be a computer that hosts shared files. Dedicated file servers are typically used for enterprise applications since they provide faster data access and offer more storage capacity than non-dedicated systems.
Example of usage – “A file server may be set to automatically allow access to all computers on the local network (LAN). In a business setting where security is important, a file server may require all client systems to log in before accessing the server.”
