Windows File Sharing: "Differences between SMB and NFS:



* The original SMB didn’t use IP for networking, but used NetBIOS. Therefore it could not be routed over the internet.
* NFS is defined by an RCF. CIFS is defined by the actions of Microsoft code. CIFS does printing, SMB does not.
* User verification is very different.
* CIFS uses the windows permission scheme, NFS uses the UNIX one.
* CIFS uses passwords, NFS verifies by IP number and trusts clients from allowed IP numbers.
* CIFS exports ‘shares’ and NFS exports directory subtrees.
* CIFS can change at Microsoft’s whim as long as they maintain backwards compatibility. NFS is more difficult to change, but is now on version 4.
* CIFS is case insensitive. NFS cares about case.
* CIFS uses TCP or NetBIOS. NFS uses UDP or TCP.
* CIFS has locking, NFS has a locking add-on.
* CIFS can compress data before sending it."