File and Print Sharing Process

---

Figure 4.2 details the interaction between the Workstation service, at a client, and the Server service, at a server, as a client attempts to open a file at the server. Note that to simplify this example, it is assumed that the user at the client computer has the necessary security authorization to access the file on the server.

The sequence of operation in Figure 4.2 is as follows:

1.	A client initiates a file open command (via a program option or at a command prompt).
2.	The I/O Manager, at the client, determines that the file is located remotely.
3.	The Workstation service, at the client, passes the I/O request to the lower level networking layers, which send the request to the remote server.
4.	The Server service, at the server, receives the I/O request asking to open a file that resides at the server.
5.	The Server service, at the server, passes the I/O request to the I/O Manager.
6.	The I/O Manager, at the server, passes the I/O request to the local file system driver.
7.	The local file system driver, at the server, performs the desired action.

An acknowledgment is then sent back to the requesting client. In this process, either computer could be Windows NT Workstation 4.0 or Windows NT Server 4.0.




Although Windows NT Workstation 4.0 can function as a network server, the Microsoft End User License Agreement (EULA) limits usage to 10 concurrent inbound sessions. There are no limitations on outbound sessions from Windows NT Workstation 4.0.

You should deploy Windows NT Server 4.0 if you need more than 10 concurrent inbound sessions.