Sharing files with NFSv4 on Fedora 12 (Server & Client configuration)

Description

This HowTo explains how to set up the Network File System version 4 on your LAN for multiple shares. It explains, also, how to mount the exports on your client.

Applicable to Fedora Versions

• Fedora 12

Requirements

The nfs-utils package provides what's need for both then client and the server. Usually, it comes preinstalled on an "out-of-the-box" installation of Fedora. However, to make sure it's installed run the following command. Enter your root password when prompted:

su -c "yum install nfs-utils"

The following are only services.

Server requirements

• nfs
• rpc2

These are the client's requirements

• nfs
• nfslock
• rpc2

Doing the Work

Configuring the server

• Open up the necessary port on the firewall (port: 2049). Activate the Firewall tool. You will be asked for your root password. Please enter it:

su -c "system-config-firewall"

• Activate NFS4 and click OK.

• Edit /etc/idmapd.conf. Enter your root password when prompted:

su -c "gedit /etc/idmapd.conf"

• Configure your domain name and change the users to nfsnobody:

[General]
Domain = example.com

[Mapping]
Nobody-User = nfsnobody
Nobody-Group = nfsnobody

• Start the rpcidmapd and nfslock services, then start the nfs service. Alternatively, you can use System->Administration->Services GUI. Please enter the root password when prompted:

su -c "service rpcidmapd start"
su -c "service nfslock start"
su -c "service nfs start"

• Set rpcidmapd, nfslock, and nfs services to start on boot. Alternatively, you can use System->Administration->Services GUI. Please enter the root password when prompted:

su -c "chkconfig --level 345 rpcidmapd on"
su -c "chkconfig --level 345 nfslock on"
su -c "chkconfig --level 345 nfs on"

• Create the directories of the exports inside /nfs4exports. Enter your root password when prompted:

su -c "mkdir -p /nfs4exports/{share1,share2,share3}"

• Edit /etc/fstab:

su -c "gedit /etc/fstab"

• Bind the desired shares to the, recently created, directories; at /nfs4exports:

/path/to/share1		/nfs4exports/share1	none	bind	0 0
/path/to/share2		/nfs4exports/share2	none	bind	0 0
/path/to/share3		/nfs4exports/share3	none	bind	0 0

• Remount everything. Enter your root password when prompted:

su -c "mount -a"

• Edit /etc/exports. Enter your root password when prompted:

su -c "gedit /etc/exports"

• Add your shares here (available to your home network) If you want your shares to be read only, change rw to ro from these statements:

/nfs4exports			192.168.1.0/255.255.255.0(rw,insecure,no_subtree_check,nohide,fsid=0)
/nfs4exports/share1		192.168.1.0/255.255.255.0(rw,insecure,no_subtree_check,nohide)
/nfs4exports/share2             192.168.1.0/255.255.255.0(rw,insecure,no_subtree_check,nohide)
/nfs4exports/share3             192.168.1.0/255.255.255.0(rw,insecure,no_subtree_check,nohide)

• Reload your exports. Please enter your root password when prompted:

su -c "/usr/sbin/exportfs -rv"

• Edit your /etc/hosts.allow file, so your clients are allowed to access your nfs. Please enter your root password when prompted:

su -c "gedit /etc/hosts.allow"

• Allow your LAN to access your services:

rpcbind: 192.168.1.0/255.255.255.0

• Reboot:

su -c "/sbin/shutdown -r now"

Configuring the clients

• Edit /etc/idmapd.conf. Enter your root password when prompted:

su -c "gedit /etc/idmapd.conf"

• Configure your domain name and change the users to nfsnobody:

[General]
Domain = example.com

[Mapping]
Nobody-User = nfsnobody
Nobody-Group = nfsnobody

• Edit /etc/fstab. Please enter your root password when prompted:

su -c "gedit /etc/fstab"

• Create the mounting directories:

su -c "mkdir /mnt/shares /home/me/share1 /home/he/share2 /home/it/share3"

• Add the desired shares:

<ip-address-to-server>:/	/mnt/shares	nfs4	rsize=8192,wsize=8192,timeo=14,soft
<ip-address-to-server>:/share1	/home/me/share1	nfs4	rsize=8192,wsize=8192,timeo=14,soft
<ip-address-to-server>:/share2	/home/he/share2	nfs4	rsize=8192,wsize=8192,timeo=14,soft
<ip-address-to-server>:/share3	/home/it/share3	nfs4	rsize=8192,wsize=8192,timeo=14,soft

• Remount everything:

su -c "mount -a"

How to test

Next time...

Common problems and fixes

Exported subdirectory appears empty

If /nfs4exports/share1 appears empty on the client make sure it's exported with the nohide parameter. Because /nfs4exports/share1 was mounted under /nfs4exports, the client can't see it unless the nohide parameter is used.

More Information

RedHat recommends, on RHEL5 Docs, that one should use automount instead of /etc/fstab; which saves resources when sharing to multiple workstations. I haven't had the time to try this configuration. This document will be modified/augmented once I've got the hang of it.

Disclaimer

I haven't had the opportunity to test this HowTo since I lack of a networked PC to do it, so you may run into problems, if you do, come to #fedora on irc.freenode.net or leave me messages so I know what's up. Feel free to propose changes and stuff.

Added Reading

• http://www.redhat.com/docs/en-US/Red_Hat_Enterprise_Linux/5.4/html/Deployment_Guide/ch-nfs.html
• http://www.brennan.id.au/19-Network_File_System.html