The DFS/NFS Secure Gateway provides authenticated access to DFS via the Network File System (NFS). The DFS/NFS Secure Gateway allows users of NFS clients to obtain DCE credentials, which they can use for authenticated access to data in the DFS filespace. Without the DFS/NFS Secure Gateway, users of NFS clients have only unauthenticated access to data in the DFS filespace.
To use the DFS/NFS Secure Gateway, configure a DFS client as a Gateway Server, and export the root of the DCE namespace from that client. Then mount the DCE namespace on each NFS client from which DFS access is desired. Users who have DCE accounts can then access DFS from the NFS clients; authenticating to DCE provides these users the privileges and permissions associated with their DCE identities. Mounting the DCE namespace also provides unauthenticated access to DFS to users who do not have DCE accounts. (See Appendix A for information about configuring and using the DFS/NFS Secure Gateway.)