Setting up file and print servers

You can use Corel LINUX to create a file or print server. File and print servers let multiple users securely share information and printing resources over an intranet. For information about intranets, see "What is a network?"

In the client-server networking model, clients request services from the server, such as file sharing or printing, and the server responds by providing the service. The distinction between clients and servers is not always straightforward, as clients often perform server tasks, such as sharing a printer with other network users.

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Providing services, such as file sharing, is handled by server applications called daemons. The lpd server daemon, for example, is the application that processes clients' requests to have files printed by the print server. Server daemons determine how to provide services by consulting one or more configuration files. The lpd file, for example, uses the /etc/printcap file to determine on what printer to print files. By modifying these server configuration files, the server administrator controls how the server functions.

Corel LINUX supports file and print sharing for Windows and non-Windows networks. Corel LINUX uses the Samba server software to provide file and print sharing between Linux and Windows computers. For file sharing between non-Windows machines, for example, between a Linux server and a UNIX client without the Samba software, Corel LINUX uses the Network File System (NFS) server.

File server overview

A file server is a computer system that provides disk space for clients to access over a network. The file server lets clients share files, or share or "mount" directories from the server. This process is known as file sharing. The file or directory that the server shares with the network is called a file share.

To mount a directory, the client specifies a path from the directory on the server to a mount point on the client's file system. After specifying the mount point, the client can browse the shared directory from the mount point on the client's computer even though the directory is still located on the server.

Corel LINUX lets you create file servers for Windows clients and non-Windows clients.

Print server overview

A print server is a computer with a printer or printers attached to it, that clients in the network send their files to for printing. This lets a number of network clients share printing resources. Corel LINUX lets you share printers with Windows and non-Windows clients.

The basic Linux printing service consists of the lpd printing daemon, the printcap printer configuration file and the print spool directory, usually /var/spool.

When a client prints a file, a new file is sent to the print spool directory. Depending on the configuration of the printcap file, the print spool directory can be located on the local computer or on the print server. The application that the client prints from, WordPerfect for example, writes the data to be printed to the new file in the print spool directory. The lpd daemon periodically checks the print spool directory for new files. When it finds a new file in the print spool directory, it adds the file to the print queue for printing on the printer specified in the printcap file.

The printcap file on the client's computer specifies where the print spool directory and printer is located. The lpd daemon checks the printcap file to determine where to send the files to be printed. If the printer specified in the printcap file is a remote printer, lpd sends the file across the network to the remote printer. As long as the remote printer is shared with network users, and the user has permission to print to that printer, lpd prints the file on the remote printer.

You can configure an additional permissions file on the server, typically the lpd.perms or hosts.equiv file, to specify the users that are allowed to send files to the server for printing. For information about the lpd.perms or hosts.equiv file, see the lpd.perms and hosts.equiv man pages.

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