Network File System

1. Network File System Joe Paulowskey Susan Mulholland Joe Woulfe

2. Background of NFS • Abbreviation of Network File System • Is a client/server application designed by Sun Microsystems • NFS allows all network users to access shared files stored on computers of different types. • NFS provides access to shared files through an interface called the Virtual FileSystem (VFS) that runs on top of TCP/IP.

3. Cont. Background • Users can manipulate shared files as if they were stored locally on the user's own hard disk. • With NFS, computers connected to a network operate as clients while accessing remote files, and as servers while providing remote users access to local shared files. • The NFS standards are publicly available and widely used.

4. Setting Up the NFS Server

5. Setting Up Configuration Files • /etc/rc.conf • The file rc.conf determines which services should be started up at system initial boot time. • /etc/exports • /etc/exports file contains an entry for each directory that can be exported to NFS clients

6. rc.conf on Server • /etc/rc.conf • Insert the following into rc.conf • portmap_enable=“YES” • This daemon allows NFS clients to discover which port the NFS server is using. • nfs_server_enable=“YES” • This lets the computer know that this is the NFS server • mountd_flags=“-r” • Carries out requests from NFS clientspassed by nfsd which services the requests

7. /etc/exports • Contains a list of entries • each entry indicates a volume that is shared and how it is shared. • What to include? • Directory –maproot=0 client1 client2 … • -maproot=0 flag allows the root user on the remote system to write to the shared file system as root • Example Entry • /usr/home –maproot=0 134.198.161.101 134.198.161.102 …

8. Verifying that NFS is running • type in the command • showmount –e • Displays all the exports on a given server

9. Setting Up an NFS Client

10. Files That Need to be Modified on the Client • /etc/rc.conf • /etc/fstab

11. rc.conf on Client • Located in /etc/rc.conf • nfs_client_enable=“YES” • Lets the computer know that this computer is an NFS client

12. Mounting Remote Directories • to mount the remote directory simply type: • mount 134.198.161.106:/usr/home /usr/home (while being the root user) • to unmount type • unmount /mnt/home

13. Entries in /etc/fstab • Directory – where to mount to • File - describes the mount point for the file system • Type – type of file system (nfs) • Options – rw, ro, xx • Backup Frequency - Reserved for possible use by future backups • Pass Number - If there is more than one file system, then the pass number can be used to specify the order in which they are checked

14. Getting NFS File Systems to be Mounted at Boot Time • Go to the file /etc/fstab • 134.198.161.106:/usr/home /mnt nfs rw 0 0 • Create the file • Mkdir /usr/Home • To check the mounting • Mount –vat nfs

15. NFS on the MAC

16. NFS Client on Mac OS • NetInfo Manager • Located in /Applications/Utilities/ • Click on the most left directory (/) • Click on Directory and then select New Subdirectory

17. Mac OS (cont.) • After Creating a new directory click on new_directory • Rename the directory to mounts (if it is not already there)

18. Mac OS (cont.) • Click on mounts in the browser and add a new directory • Click on new_directory and enter • nfsserver:/exported/path • After you click on mounts you want to go to Directory and select the New Property command • Create 3 New Properties

19. MAC OS (cont) • Rename Each of the three properties • Save the settings

20. References • http://www.linuxdocs.org • http://www.freebsd.org • http://www.defcon1.org/html/Software_Articles/Adding_Com_Port/root-password/NFS/nfs.html • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_File_System • http://www.freebsddiary.org/nfs.php • http://www2.astcomm.net:2080/tech/nfs_howto/client/