4.1 ClearCase File Server

The ClearCase File Server is a TCP/IP-based mechanism that enables cross-platform file transfers between VOB servers and snapshot views. It supports access by snapshot views on Windows computers to VOB data on UNIX computers and access by snapshot views on UNIX computers to VOB data on Windows NT.

If a ClearCase client uses only snapshot views, no third-party NFS client-based or SMB server-based product is necessary to access VOB data on any platform. Dynamic views support access by snapshot views on Windows computers to VOB data on UNIX computers. Dynamic views on Windows NT computers still require a supported NFS client or SMB server product to access UNIX VOBs.

ClearCase clients running Windows Me or Windows 98 use CCFS as their sole transfer mechanism when accessing UNIX VOBs. Because Windows Me and Windows 98 computers cannot use dynamic views or run view servers, you must have at least one Windows NT computer that will run the view server process and contain the view storage directory for snapshot views created on Windows Me and Windows 98 computers.

When CCFS is enabled, file transfers between snapshot view clients and VOB servers (for example, operations such as checking out, checking in, and creating and updating snapshot views) take place over a standard TCP/IP connection. File transfers between a VOB server and a snapshot view's view server also use this TCP/IP connection.

CCFS is always enabled on a UNIX computer running ClearCase. It may be enabled or disabled on Windows NT using the ClearCase program in Control Panel

Enabling and Disabling CCFS on Windows NT

To enable and disable CCFS on a Windows NT computer:

1. Click Start >Settings >Control Panel. Open the ClearCase program.

2. On the Options tab, select the Use CCFS to access UNIX VOBs check box to enable use of CCFS. Clear this check box to disable use of CCFS.

Click OK.

3. Shut down and restart the computer to ensure that the change takes effect for all processes.

NOTE: When CCFS is disabled (which is the default setting on Windows NT), you must have a supported NFS client or SMB server product to access UNIX VOBs.