Distributed file systems do not share block level access to the same storage but use a network protocol.
Closing down of network protocols also occur in this phase.
It has extensibility required for the various network protocols used.
Functions such as network protocols were moved out of the kernel.
Such information could be carried over a network protocol, but only by adding complexity.
For an example of this practice see: List of network protocols.
Under the new regime this should change with the choice of network protocol becoming irrelevant to the application.
No special device driver support is necessary; common network protocols are used instead.
Genera also has support for various network protocols and applications using those.
Edge devices may translate between one type of network protocol and another.