Sharing File Systems with NFS

Contents

21.1. Installing the Required Software
21.2. Importing File Systems with YaST
21.3. Importing File Systems Manually
21.4. Exporting File Systems with YaST
21.5. Exporting File Systems Manually
21.6. NFS with Kerberos
21.7. For More Information

Distributing and sharing file systems over a network is a common task in corporate environments. NFS is a proven system that also works together with the yellow pages protocol NIS. For a more secure protocol that works together with LDAP and may also be kerberized, check NFSv4.

NFS works with NIS to make a network transparent to the user. With NFS, it is possible to distribute arbitrary file systems over the network. With an appropriate setup, users always find themselves in the same environment independent of the terminal they currently use.

Like NIS, NFS is a client/server system. However, a machine can be both—it can supply file systems over the network (export) and mount file systems from other hosts (import).

[Important]Need for DNS

In principle, all exports can be made using IP addresses only. To avoid time-outs, you should have a working DNS system. This is necessary at least for logging purposes, because the mountd daemon does reverse lookups.

Installing the Required Software

To configure your host as an NFS client, you do not need to install additional software. All packages needed to configure an NFS client are installed by default.

NFS server software is not part of the default installation. To install the NFS server software, start YaST and select Software+Software Management. Now choose Filter+Patterns and select Misc. Server or use the Search option and search for NFS Server. Confirm the installation of the packages to finish the installation process.