AFS is a network-distributed file system comparable to Sun's NFS but with some more advanced features than all but the most recent version of NFS. AFS distinguishes between client machines and server machines. An AFS client enables users to access data residing on AFS servers transparently as if they were stored on a local disk. AFS servers in turn provide disk storage for files and directories.
CERN has purchased licenses for AFS for all the common UNIX platforms on site and currently offers a limited public service, including some central AFS file servers.
For more information on AFS please refer to:
/afs/cern.ch/project/afs/afsug.ps
which should be accessed via World Wide Web in the CERN Computing
UNIX Workstation Support entry under 'Guides'.