CIFS

CIFS definition - computer

(Common Internet File System) The file sharing protocol used in Windows. It evolved out of the SMB (Server Message Block) protocol in DOS, which is why the terms CIFS/SMB and SMB/CIFS are sometimes seen. The word "Internet" in the CIFS name has little relevance. It stems back to the 1996/97 time frame when Microsoft submitted CIFS to the IETF, but that draft has expired. See file sharing protocol, SMB and Samba.


_SMBCIFS.GIF


From Mac to Windows

This Macintosh dialog was displayed when trying to connect from the Mac to a Windows machine on the network. The SMB/CIFS nomenclature was later dropped in Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) to hide the jargon.






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