Hardware and software that together provide file-handling and storage functions for multiple users on a
local area network. The most common choices for file server software are Sun Microsystems'
Network File System for
Unix and
Novell Netware for
IBM PC compatibles. There is also a version of NFS for PCs called
PC-NFS. Storing files on a file server saves having multiple copies stored on individual computers, thus economising on disk space and also makes administrating and updating the files easier.