{
  "slug": "nfs-delegation",
  "term": "NFSv4 file delegation",
  "aliases": [
    "NFS delegation",
    "NFS read delegation",
    "NFS write delegation"
  ],
  "definition": "An NFSv4 file delegation is a recallable server grant allowing a client to manage specified opens and cached file state locally while conflicting access is coordinated by the server.",
  "note": "Read and write delegations have different permissions. A write delegation may defer transmitting modified data at application close; conflicting access must be coordinated through return or revocation under the protocol rules. Delegation is not permanent ownership, a backup, or evidence that the server already stores the latest bytes durably.",
  "related": [
    "nfs-storage",
    "close-to-open-consistency",
    "nfs-attribute-cache",
    "nfs-commit"
  ],
  "limitations": [
    {
      "text": "Without an OPEN delegation, NFSv4.0 and NFSv4.1 require modified data on server stable storage before protocol CLOSE; delegated close behavior must not be generalized to that case.",
      "citationIds": [
        "rfc7530",
        "rfc8881"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "citations": [
    {
      "id": "rfc7530",
      "title": "Haynes and Noveck (editors). NFS Version 4 Protocol. RFC 7530, sections 10.3, 10.4 and 10.6 (NFSv4.0).",
      "url": "https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc7530#section-10",
      "accessed": "2026-10-14"
    },
    {
      "id": "rfc8881",
      "title": "Noveck and Lever (editors). NFS Version 4 Minor Version 1 Protocol. RFC 8881, sections 10.3-10.6 (NFSv4.1).",
      "url": "https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc8881.html#section-10",
      "accessed": "2026-10-14"
    },
    {
      "id": "hesela-stability",
      "title": "NFS stable writes: what COMMIT, flush and FUA actually promise",
      "url": "https://hesela.com/analyses/nfs-stable-writes-flush-fua/",
      "accessed": "2026-10-14"
    }
  ],
  "status": "shipping",
  "advantages": [],
  "supersedes": [],
  "supersededBy": [],
  "firstSeen": null,
  "lastSeen": null,
  "updated": "2026-10-14"
}