Setting up NFS for file sharing

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Proven on:
Logo Debian.png
 11 (bullseye)


A little note about typographic conventions you'll see here

Install NFS Server

  • sudo apt install nfs-kernel-server

Configure NFS Server

  • sudo vi /etc/exports

Add/edit: 

/PATH/TO/BE/SHARED *(rw,async,no_root_squash,no_subtree_check)

For the changes to take effect, export and start NFS service.

  • sudo exportfs -a
  • sudo /etc/init.d/nfs-kernel-server start

Pretty simple...

A bit about re-sharing

Sometimes, you may want to share something that you've actually mounted from an NFS share on another machine...

A couple of things are different in this case.

First, you need to ensure that the mounts are done BEFORE you start the NFS server.

  • sudo vi /etc/init.d/nfs-kernel-server

and add: 

##########################
echo "Starting out by making sure EVERYTHING is mounted..."
/usr/bin/mount -a
echo "Really..."
echo "This is NOT the right place to do this..."
echo "But, init.d kinda sucks..."
##########################

right near the start.

Then you need to provide an fsid entry (with a unique number) for each export. 

/PATH/TO/BE/SHARED *(rw,async,no_root_squash,no_subtree_check,fsid=1010)

AND it STILL doesn't start at boot!!!

But, you can force it to start after booting by logging into the machine & telling it:

  • sudo /etc/init.d/nfs-kernel-server start

Connecting to the NFS Server

You'll need NFS installed

  • sudo apt install nfs-common

or

  • sudo apt install nfs-kernel-server

Then you can check what's shared from any particular machine:

  • showmount -e [SERVERNAME or ADDRESS]
    • (requires sudo on Debian...)

will show you what's shared from a machine

Setting up & mounting a share

  • sudo mkdir -p /PATH/TO/MOUNT/SHARE
  • sudo mount [SERVERNAME or ADDRESS]:/PATH/TO/BE/SHARED /PATH/TO/MOUNT/SHARE

Better yet tho...

  • sudo vi /etc/fstab

& add an entry: 

[SERVERNAME or ADDRESS]:/PATH/TO/BE/SHARED /PATH/TO/MOUNT/SHARE nfs rw,user,exec 0 0

Then, you can mount anything listed in fstab but not yet mounted

  • sudo mount -a

TBD

  • Learn what flags do what in /etc/exports
  • Browsing in the GUI would be nice...
  • Look into automounting (including graceful failure modes)

Some Links

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