CIFS is primarily used on Windows operating systems to share files and it employs a client-server model. NFS, on the other hand, is primarily used on Unix and Linux operating systems to share files and utilizes a stateless model.
To accomplish their tasks, CIFS and NFS employ different technologies. CIFS utilizes a client-server model. NFS, on the other hand, employs a stateless model in which the client sends requests to the server, which responds by delivering the requested files.
Microsoft first introduced CIFS in 1996 as an enhancement to the SMB protocol. It was created to improve remote file access and printer-sharing support. Sun Microsystems, on the other hand, created NFS in the 1980s as a way to share files between Unix-based systems.
CIFS supports ACLs at the file and folder levels, allowing for very detailed control over file access permissions. In contrast, NFS is appropriate for file sharing in Unix and Linux environments. It employs a stateless model and communicates via UDP and TCP.