What is CIFS

by Yogi P - November 26, 2023

What is CIFS and what is CIFS Full Form?

Common Internet File System or CIFS is a network protocol developed by Microsoft that allows file exchange and remote access between computers and systems.

CIFS provides a simpler way for users to share files compared to the traditional File Transfer Protocol (FTP), and has been proven to be a reliable protocol for networked systems.

How Does CIFS Work?

At its core, CIFS uses TCP/IP as its primary networking protocol. CIFS works by establishing a communications link between two computers, such as via an internet connection or a local network. The two computers convert the data they want to send into packets, which are then sent over the communications link until they reach the destination computer.

CIFS also adds some additional features, such as security authentication, error-recovery, and error handling. Additionally, when sending and receiving data, CIFS applies a specific message format, which enables the two computers exchanging the data to understand one another.

Advantages of CIFS

CIFS has a variety of advantages compared to other file-sharing protocols. It requires less setup and is more widely supported than other protocols such as FTP, allowing more users and applications to take advantage of the protocol.

CIFS is also more secure than FTP, offering various advanced features such as authentication, encryption, and message integrity checks.

Furthermore, CIFS is faster than FTP, with data being transferred to and from files at speeds that are usually much higher than other protocols.

Conclusion

Overall, CIFS is an efficient and effective protocol for sharing files across networks, and is widely used by many applications. It is secure, fast, and easy to setup, making it an ideal choice for users needing to share large files over the internet or long distances.