One of the ways in which Server 2008’s new version of the Server Message Block protocol improves performance over the original version of SMB is through something called “opportunistic locking,” or “oplocks” for short.
The pros and cons of block-level security signatures
How to remove, disable, or revert the Server Message Block protocol
SMB, Connecting Protocols, and BranchCache
A little-known benefit of the new Server Message Block in Windows 7
Protocol advances in Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7
Faster file transfers with newer versions of Windows
Backing up without the benefit of a Graphical User Interface
What's new in the server backup utility?
Making sure you're prepared for that no-boot scenario
