Sun Microsystems Inc’s Network File System, which is now into its seventh year with no changes, is set for an overhaul, according to Electronic Engineering Times. The trade paper says Sun’s Colorado Springs-based SunLabs research unit is working to improve Network File System file-handling and add multi-threading capabilities as part of a project called Medusa, which appears to be anticipating a need generated by the company’s forthcoming high-end multi-processing servers and the SunDragon. Improved Network File System performance also lies at the heart of the company’s desire to recapture ground in the market for heavily networked Network File System machines and software, which has been all but hi-jacked by the likes of Auspex Systems Inc, Legato Systems Inc, Interphase Corp and Ceram Inc. The new Network File System should eliminate performance bottlenecks that have restricted performance on Sun Sparcsystems. The paper reports that the protocol works well on systems with up to four CPUs, although when it will roll into the Solaris operating system isn’t known. There are said to be continuing internal struggles between Sun’s hardware unit which wants the new Network File System as soon as possible for its next generation multi-processing servers – and SunSoft, which has already promised multi-threading for Network File System, but wants the new features to be part of Solaris 2.1 or higher, and 2.1 isn’t expected until mid-1993. Latest reports on SunDragon pitch a 64-CPU multiprocessor being around by next summer. Dragon is thought to draw on technology from Sun’s collaboration with Cray Research Inc to develop the moderately parallel Sparc technology Cray picked up with the assets of Floating Point Systems Inc, and may use Fujitsu Ltd CPUs.
