A network file server is any node that provides shared services such as file, printing, and security services to other nodes, including application workstations and database server machines. A network file server usually provides these services by allowing other nodes to access its local files and printers as if they were local. For example, OpenEdge clients can run application procedures and OpenEdge servers can access database files stored on a remote network file server.

A network operating system (NOS) is a network environment that includes one or more network file servers that provide a common set of resource sharing and security services to other nodes. A network file server usually runs the kernel of an NOS, the program that controls access to shared network resources. Depending on its operating system, a network file server might also run one or more OpenEdge database clients and servers.

Although Progress Software Corporation recommends that you store the database on a disk locally attached to the database server machine, you can store the database on a network file server. Clients can access shared application code and communicate with the database server. However, depending on your application and network environment, you might lose database integrity.

Note that OpenEdge often runs in local area networks (LANs) that have no network file servers. On these LANs, application workstations can only access locally stored procedures, and database server machines can only access locally stored databases. However, the application workstations and database server machines can communicate with each other as remote processes.