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CIFS Connector Overview

A CIFS server is an EMC component that corresponds to a file server (\cifs_server_name).

You can configure a CIFS server on a physical Data Mover or on a VDM. Typically, the CIFS servers are configured on a VDM.

Every CIFS server requires an Application definition in File Access Manager.

The CIFS connector enables crawling, permissions collection (without local users and local groups) and data classification but does not provide activity monitoring.

Note

File Access Manager provides dedicated specified connectors for common application types. You should check for a specific connector, if we provide it, before trying to install a generic connector. Refer to the section on Business Resource Structure in the File Access Manager Administrator Guide for a full list of supported application types.

Supported Versions

Any CIFS compliant file server.

Capabilities

This connector enables you to use File Access Manager to access and analyze data stored in CIFS and do the following:

  • Analyze the structure of your stored data.

  • Monitor user activity in the resources.

  • Classify the data being stored.

  • Verify user permissions on the resources, and compare them against requirements.

  • Manage access fulfillment - automated granting and revoking of access - according to rules set in File Access Manager.

  • Identity collector – collect IAM users, groups and roles and the connections between them.

Refer to the File Access Manager documentation for a full description.

CIFS Installation Flow Overview

To install the CIFS connector:

  1. Configure all the prerequisites.

  2. Add a new CIFS application in the Business Website.

  3. Install the relevant services:

    • Activity Monitor - This is the activity collection engine, used by all connectors that support activity monitoring.

    • Permissions Collector

      If you are using EC2 login, the collector should be installed on the EC2 instance.

    • Data Classification Collector

Important

Installing the permissions collector and data classification services is optional and should only be installed by someone with a full understanding of File Access Manager deployment architecture. The File Access Manager Administrator Guide has additional information on the architecture.