Abstract: In a first aspect, a first computer stores a first application program, a remote data access program module and a first operating system program. A second computer stores a server application program and a second operating system program. A data communication channel connects the first computer to the second computer. A file access command that is applicable to a data file stored at the second computer is issued from the application program at the first computer. The file access command is transmitted from the remote data access program module to the server application program via the first and second operating system programs. The server application program executes the file access command with respect to the data file stored at the second computer by means of a suitable call to the second operating system program. The file access command may be a write command or a read command.