METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR NETWORKING COMPUTERS HAVING VARYING FILE ARCHITECTURES

An improved, distributed network comprising a central server and at least one foreign server, which provides a method and means for integrating multiple networks with varying file systems is provided. The present invention allows foreign servers to coexist on a single integrated file server while eliminating server-to-server translations, thus improving the performance of the network. In a preferred embodiment, the central server communicates with central server clients in accordance with a central server network protocol, and converts central server network file service requests from the central server clients into central server file system commands. Foreign servers communicate with foreign server clients in accordance with a foreign server network protocol and convert foreign server network file service requests from foreign server clients into central server file system commands. The foreign servers also inform the central server of file system operations performed on the central server file system by the foreign file servers.