Editing File server (section)

===Security===
File servers generally offer some form of system security to limit access to files to specific users or groups. In large organizations, this is a task usually delegated to [[directory services]], such as [[openLDAP]], Novell's [[Novell eDirectory|eDirectory]] or Microsoft's [[Active Directory]].

These servers work within the hierarchical computing environment which treat users, computers, applications and files as distinct but related entities on the network and grant access based on user or group credentials. In many cases, the directory service spans many file servers, potentially hundreds for large organizations. In the past, and in smaller organizations, authentication could take place directly at the server itself.