How to setup an NFS share in Linux
Network File System (NFS) allows you to share directories between multiple systems over a network. It is useful for sharing files in a local network or across remote servers. In this guide, we will walk through the process of setting up an NFS server on Ubuntu and mounting the shared directory on a remote Ubuntu machine.
Step 1: Install NFS Server on the Host Machine
To set up an NFS server, you need to install the nfs-kernel-server package.
Update the system package list:
sudo apt updateInstall NFS server:
sudo apt install nfs-kernel-server -y
Step 2: Create and Configure the Shared Directory
Now, you need to create the directory that you want to share over the network.
- Create the directory (for example,
/mnt/nfs_share):
```bashsudo mkdir -p /mnt/nfs_share
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- **Set appropriate permissions**:
```bashsudo chown nobody:nogroup /mnt/nfs_share sudo chmod 777 /mnt/nfs_share
These permissions allow any client to access and modify files. You can set more restrictive permissions based on your needs.
Edit the NFS exports file: Open the
/etc/exportsfile:
```bashsudo nano /etc/exports
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- Add the following line at the end:
/mnt/nfs_share 192.168.1.0/24(rw,sync,no_subtree_check)
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- **Apply the changes**:
```bashsudo exportfs -a
- Restart the NFS service:
```bashsudo systemctl restart nfs-kernel-server
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### **Step 3: Configure Firewall (if applicable)**
If UFW (Uncomplicated Firewall) is enabled, allow NFS traffic.
```bashsudo ufw allow from 192.168.1.0/24 to any port nfs
Restart UFW:
```bashsudo ufw reload
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### **Step 4: Install NFS Client on the Remote Machine**
Now, install the required packages on the client machine.
- **Update the package list**:
```bashsudo apt update
- Install the NFS client package:
```bashsudo apt install nfs-common -y
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### **Step 5: Mount the NFS Share on the Remote Machine**
- **Create a mount point** (for example, `/mnt/nfs_client`):
```bashsudo mkdir -p /mnt/nfs_client
- Mount the NFS share:
```bashsudo mount 192.168.1.100:/mnt/nfs_share /mnt/nfs_client
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- Replace `192.168.1.100` with the actual IP address of your NFS server.
- **Verify the mount**:
df -h
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- You should see the mounted NFS share in the list.
### **Step 6: Make the Mount Persistent**
To ensure the NFS share is mounted automatically after a reboot:
- Open the `/etc/fstab` file:
```bashsudo nano /etc/fstab
- Add the following line at the end:
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192.168.1.100:/mnt/nfs_share /mnt/nfs_client nfs defaults 0 0
Save and exit the file.
Test the fstab configuration:
bashsudo mount -a
- If there are no errors, the configuration is correct.
Conclusion
You have successfully set up an NFS server on Ubuntu and mounted it on a remote machine. This setup allows seamless file sharing between multiple systems. You can now access the shared directory from the remote machine as if it were a local directory.