# Remote File Sharing

> discontinued distributed file system developed by AT&T in the 1980s

**Wikidata**: [Q7312106](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7312106)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remote_File_Sharing)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/remote-file-sharing

## Summary
Remote File Sharing (RFS) is a discontinued distributed file system that was developed by AT&T in the 1980s. Also known by the acronym RFS, it functioned as a network file system specifically designed to operate on UNIX System V.

## Key Facts
- **Developer:** AT&T
- **Development Period:** 1980s
- **Status:** Discontinued
- **Also Known As:** RFS
- **Operating System:** UNIX System V
- **Instance of:** File system, Network file system
- **Function:** A concrete format or program for storing files and directories accessed via computer network protocols.
- **Wikipedia Languages:** Available in English (en) and Chinese (zh).

## FAQs
### Q: What was Remote File Sharing (RFS)?
A: Remote File Sharing (RFS) was a distributed file system developed by AT&T during the 1980s. It allowed users to access and manage files on remote machines as if they were stored locally.

### Q: Is Remote File Sharing still in use?
A: No, Remote File Sharing is a discontinued system. It is no longer an active or supported product.

### Q: Which operating system was required for Remote File Sharing?
A: Remote File Sharing ran on UNIX System V, a major version of the Unix operating system.

## Why It Matters
Remote File Sharing represents a significant chapter in the history of distributed computing and the evolution of the Unix operating system. Developed by AT&T in the 1980s, RFS was an early implementation of a network file system, a technology that allows files and directories to be accessed over a network as if they were local. This capability was crucial for the development of networked office environments and early server-client architectures.

The system is particularly notable for its integration with UNIX System V. As the "most-referenced Unix version" and the foundation for POSIX and the Single UNIX Specification, System V was a standard backbone for enterprise computing. By creating a file sharing solution native to this environment, AT&T provided a mechanism for data sharing that aligned with the dominant Unix standards of the era. While the technology is now discontinued, RFS serves as a historical marker for the transition from isolated workstations to interconnected network environments, paving the way for modern distributed file systems used today.

## Notable For
- **AT&T Development:** Being a proprietary system developed by the original creators of Unix, AT&T.
- **UNIX System V Integration:** Running specifically on UNIX System V, a foundational version of the Unix operating system.
- **Early Network File System:** Serving as an early example of network file systems that allowed remote file access.
- **Distributed Architecture:** Functioning as a distributed file system, a concept that was gaining significant traction in the 1980s.

## Body
### Development and Classification
Remote File Sharing, often abbreviated as RFS, was a product of the 1980s computing era, developed by the telecommunications giant AT&T. It is classified technically as both a **file system** and a **network file system**. A file system is defined as a concrete format or program for storing files and directories on a data storage device, while a network file system extends this capability by providing protocols to access files on remote machines.

### Technical Requirements
RFS was not a standalone operating system but a service that ran atop one. Its primary requirement was **UNIX System V**. This version of Unix is historically significant as the most-referenced Unix version and served as the starting point for the first versions of POSIX and the Single UNIX Specification. By relying on System V, RFS ensured compatibility with the standardizing Unix landscape of the time.

### Current Status
The system is now categorized as **discontinued**. While it played a role in the networking landscape of the 1980s, it has been superseded by other technologies. Records indicate its presence in English and Chinese language Wikipedia entries, along with identifiers in Freebase and the Pro-Linux database.