[linux-block.git] / Documentation / blockdev / nbd.txt

Network Block Device (TCP version)
==================================

1) Overview
-----------

What is it: With this compiled in the kernel (or as a module), Linux
can use a remote server as one of its block devices. So every time
the client computer wants to read, e.g., /dev/nb0, it sends a
request over TCP to the server, which will reply with the data read.
This can be used for stations with low disk space (or even diskless)
to borrow disk space from another computer.
Unlike NFS, it is possible to put any filesystem on it, etc.

For more information, or to download the nbd-client and nbd-server
tools, go to http://nbd.sf.net/.

The nbd kernel module need only be installed on the client
system, as the nbd-server is completely in userspace. In fact,
the nbd-server has been successfully ported to other operating
systems, including Windows.
Commit	Line	Data
ef8d9e7d MP	1	Network Block Device (TCP version)
ef8d9e7d MP	2	==================================
5e4b269b	3
ef8d9e7d MP	4	1) Overview
ef8d9e7d MP	5	-----------
1da177e4	6
ef8d9e7d MP	7	What is it: With this compiled in the kernel (or as a module), Linux
	8	can use a remote server as one of its block devices. So every time
	9	the client computer wants to read, e.g., /dev/nb0, it sends a
	10	request over TCP to the server, which will reply with the data read.
	11	This can be used for stations with low disk space (or even diskless)
	12	to borrow disk space from another computer.
	13	Unlike NFS, it is possible to put any filesystem on it, etc.
	14
	15	For more information, or to download the nbd-client and nbd-server
	16	tools, go to http://nbd.sf.net/.
	17
	18	The nbd kernel module need only be installed on the client
	19	system, as the nbd-server is completely in userspace. In fact,
	20	the nbd-server has been successfully ported to other operating
	21	systems, including Windows.