6.1 ClearCase File Service

The ClearCase File Service 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.

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 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, Windows 2000, or Windows XP 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 using the ClearCase program in Control Panel

Enabling CCFS on Windows

CCFS is disabled by default on Windows computers running ClearCase. When CCFS is disabled on a Windows computer, the computer must use a supported NFS client or SMB server product to access UNIX VOBs.

NOTE: CCFS must be enabled on any Windows computer that is running a view_server used by Windows 98 or Windows Me clients to access UNIX VOBs unless the UNIX VOB server host is running a supported SMB server product. A Windows computer configured to use an NFS client product to access UNIX VOBs cannot be the view_server host for Windows 98 or Windows Me computers.

To enable CCFS on a Windows computer:

1. Click Start > Settings > Control Panel. Start 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.