Chapter 19: Network file systems and autofs

Share a directory from one server, mount it on another with the right access, make the mount permanent or on-demand with autofs, and diagnose the usual failures.

What you will learn

• Export a directory with NFS, open the firewall and mount it from a client.
• Explain how user IDs, root squash and read-only exports decide who can do what.
• Make an NFS mount permanent with fstab, or on demand with autofs.
• Write wildcard and direct autofs maps and inspect what autofs has loaded.

Sections

1. Sharing directories with NFS
2. Exercise: Export and mount a directory
3. Who may do what over NFS
4. Exercise: Get the permissions right
5. Permanent NFS mounts and autofs
6. Exercise: Mount at boot, then on demand
7. More autofs maps: wildcards and direct maps
8. Exercise: Serve home directories on demand
9. Exercise: NFS and autofs review
10. NFS and autofs quiz
11. NFS and autofs cheat sheet