The Andrew File System (AFS) is a distributed file system developed by Carnegie Mellon University that provides a homogeneous, location-transparent file namespace using a group of trusted servers known as vice. Key features of AFS include nightly backups, file security through Kerberos authentication, and reliable hardware storage. Various implementations of AFS exist, with advantages such as efficient file caching and substantial storage space for user files.

1. Andrew File
System
Ruban Gino Singh A
URK20CS2001

2. Questions
01. What is Andrew
File System
The overview and
introduction about Andrew
File System.
02. Architecture of
Andrew File System
Overview about the
architecture and its
components.
03. Features of
Andrew File System
Explaining the features
and benefits of using
Andrew Files system.
04. Implementations
of AFS
Explaining the Different
types of Implementations
till date.
05. Advantages of
Andrew File System
Overview about the
advantages of Andrew File
System.
2 Andrew File System May 15, 2023

3. Andrew File
System
Andrew File System (AFS) is a distributed file
system which uses a set of trusted servers to
present a homogeneous, location-transparent file
name space to all the client workstations.
It was developed by Carnegie Mellon University
as a part of the Andrew project.
3 AFS - Introduction May 15, 2023

4. Architecture of Andrew File System
•Vice: The Andrew File System provides a
homogeneous, location-transparent file
namespace to all client workstations by utilizing a
group of trustworthy servers known as Vice.
•Venus: This mechanism, known as Venus,
caches files from Vice and returns updated
versions of those files to the servers from which
they originated. Only when a file is opened or
closed does Venus communicate with Vice;
individual bytes of a file are read and written
directly on the cached copy, skipping Venus
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AFS - Architecture
4

5. Features of Andrew File
System
Andrew File System data files are backed up
nightly. Backups are kept on site for six months.
File Backup
Andrew File System data files are protected by the
Kerbros authentication system.
File Security
Andrew File System data files are stored in the
servers located in the UCSC Data Center.
Physical Security
The Andrew File System servers and storage are
maintained on redundant hardware.
Reliability and Availability
Andrew File System uses Kerberos for
authentication. Kerberos accounts are
automatically provisioned for all UCSC Students,
faculty and staff. Kerberos uses the Cruz ID ‘blue’
password.
Authentication
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AFS – Features
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6. AFS - Implementations
Initial release by International Business Machines.
Currently, this implementation is Deprecated.
Transarc (IBM)
Second Implementation was build from the source
and released by Transarc
Open AFS
Fourth implementation of Andrew File System client
exists in the Linux Kernal source code since at the
latest version.
Linux Kernal source code
An Independent implementation of Andrew File
System developed at Royal Institute of Technology.
ARLA
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AFS – Implementations
6

7. Andrew File System -
Advantages
• Shared files that aren’t updated very often and
local user files that aren’t updated too often will last
a long time.
• It sets up a lot of storage space for caching.
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AFS – Advantages
7
• It offers a big enough working set for all of a
user’s files, ensuring that the file is still in the cache
when the user accesses it again.

8. Thank you
Ruban Gino Singh A
info@rubangino.in