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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallNFS lets one Ubuntu server export a directory over the network while another Ubuntu server mounts that directory as if it were local storage. Install nfs-kernel-server on the exporting host, install nfs-common on each client, restrict access in /etc/exports, apply the export with exportfs, and add an /etc/fstab entry when the mount must survive reboots.
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How an Ubuntu NFS share works
NFS uses a client-server model. The server owns the filesystem and publishes one or more directories, called exports. A client connects to an export and attaches it to a local directory, called the mount point. Applications on the client then use the mounted path through normal file operations.
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This arrangement does not copy files between servers or create a second synchronized replica. Both machines access the same server-side data, so the server’s disks, filesystem permissions, availability, and network connection determine whether the client can use the share.
Roles and packages
| Role | Ubuntu package | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| NFS server | nfs-kernel-server |
Runs the service that exports directories. |
| NFS client | nfs-common |
Provides the mount helper and client utilities. |
Use a supported Ubuntu release on both machines where possible. The two systems must be able to resolve or reach the server name and communicate on the ports required by the selected NFS version. Restrict the export to the smallest trusted client set; a broad network range is not a substitute for access control.
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Configure the Ubuntu NFS server
1. Install and start the server service
- Refresh package metadata and install the server package:
sudo apt update sudo apt install nfs-kernel-server - Start the service immediately:
sudo systemctl start nfs-kernel-server.service - Check its state if the start command reports an error:
sudo systemctl status nfs-kernel-server.service
Starting the service makes the NFS server available now. The export definition described below controls which directories and clients it will actually serve.
2. Create the directory to export
Create a dedicated directory rather than exporting the entire root filesystem or a user home directory unintentionally:
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3. Add a controlled export rule
Edit /etc/exports as root and add a rule such as:
/srv/shared 192.168.10.0/24(rw,sync,no_subtree_check,root_squash)The first field is the server directory. The second identifies permitted clients; this example allows hosts in the 192.168.10.0/24 subnet. Options inside parentheses determine write access, durability behavior, subtree checking, and treatment of client-side root.
Use a single host when only one client needs the share. For example:
/srv/shared 192.168.10.42(rw,sync,no_subtree_check,root_squash)You can name a host if reliable name resolution is configured, but a name that resolves incorrectly can grant access to the wrong machine. Canonical’s Ubuntu guidance recommends making the client declaration as specific as possible so unwanted systems cannot access the mount.
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Export options and when to use them
| Decision | Example | Effect and trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Read-only or read-write | ro or rw |
ro prevents clients from changing exported data. Use rw only when clients must create, modify, or delete files. |
| Write durability | sync or async |
sync commits changes before replying and favors consistency. async can improve performance but risks data loss or corruption if the server fails before buffered changes are committed. |
| Root mapping | root_squash or no_root_squash |
root_squash maps client root to an unprivileged identity on the server. no_root_squash preserves client-root privileges and can let a client root user alter root-owned files, so reserve it for a documented administrative requirement. |
| Subtree validation | subtree_check or no_subtree_check |
subtree_check verifies that requested paths remain inside the exported subtree. no_subtree_check avoids that check and can suit workloads with frequent file renames; select it with awareness of the different validation behavior. |
| Client scope | Single IP, hostname, or CIDR | Use the narrowest declaration that covers legitimate clients. Do not use a wildcard when a known host or small subnet is sufficient. |
root_squash is the usual safe starting point. File access by ordinary users still depends on the server-side UID, GID, mode bits, and any ACLs on the directory.
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4. Apply and inspect the export
After saving /etc/exports, load the rules and display the active configuration:
sudo exportfs -a
sudo exportfs -vexportfs -a applies additions, removals, and option changes. The verbose output lets you confirm that the expected directory, client range, and options are active before testing from another machine.
Prepare and test the Ubuntu client
1. Install the client utilities
sudo apt update
sudo apt install nfs-common2. Create an empty mount point
sudo mkdir -p /mnt/sharedThe mount-point directory must exist before mounting. Keep it empty: files already stored there become hidden while the NFS filesystem is mounted and reappear after unmounting. Using a dedicated empty directory prevents confusion and accidental writes to the local filesystem.
3. Perform a live mount
Replace nfs-server with the server’s resolvable hostname or address:
sudo mount nfs-server:/srv/shared /mnt/sharedConfirm that the mount is present:
mount | grep /mnt/sharedCheck both read and write behavior when the export is intended to be writable:
sudo sh -c 'printf "NFS testn" > /mnt/shared/nfs-test.txt'
cat /mnt/shared/nfs-test.txt
sudo rm /mnt/shared/nfs-test.txtIf the export is read-only, omit the write test and verify that reading an existing file works. A successful mount does not guarantee that every user can write; Unix ownership and permission checks still apply.
Unmount a temporary test
When the live test is complete, stop shells or applications whose current directory is under the mount and run:
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sudo umount /mnt/sharedIf the command says the target is busy, identify processes using the path, close those applications, and retry. Do not delete files from the mount point as a way to force an unmount.
Make the NFS mount persistent with /etc/fstab
A command-line mount lasts until unmounting or reboot. To have the client mount the export during normal startup, add this line to the client’s /etc/fstab:
nfs-server:/srv/shared /mnt/shared nfs defaults,_netdev 0 0The four essential fields are the server and exported directory, the local mount point, the nfs filesystem type, and mount options. _netdev marks the filesystem as network-dependent so startup ordering can account for network availability. The final two zeroes disable the traditional dump backup flag and filesystem checks that are not appropriate for this network mount.
Validate the entry without rebooting
- Reload systemd’s generated mount units after editing
fstab:sudo systemctl daemon-reload - Mount the named path using the new entry:
sudo mount /mnt/shared - Verify the result:
mount | grep /mnt/shared
If the mount command fails, read the error carefully and inspect service logs before rebooting. A typo in the server name, export path, or local directory is easier to correct while the machine is running than during an unattended boot.
Optional availability behavior
For a client that must boot even when the NFS server is temporarily offline, discuss appropriate systemd and mount timeout behavior for your Ubuntu release before adding options such as nofail or automount settings. Those options change whether an unavailable share blocks startup and should be chosen for the role of that client, not copied blindly.
Resolve ownership, permissions, and root access
NFS does not bypass normal Unix permissions. On the server, inspect the exported directory and adjust its owner, group, and mode deliberately:
sudo chown -R shareduser:sharedgroup /srv/shared
sudo chmod 2770 /srv/sharedThe exact account names and mode should reflect the workload. The set-group-ID bit in the example helps new files inherit the directory’s group, but it does not replace a correct group membership policy.
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Why client root may not be able to write
With root_squash, UID 0 from the client is mapped to an unprivileged identity on the server. A root shell on the client therefore cannot automatically change root-owned files in the export. This limits the damage a compromised or misused client can cause.
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Keep IDs aligned
When several Ubuntu servers share files, compare the numeric output of id username on each host. Matching UID and GID values avoid a username on one server being treated as a different account on another. If IDs cannot be aligned, use an identity-management design that provides consistent mappings rather than relying on similarly spelled local accounts.
Choose authentication and transport protection
Local-network trust versus Kerberos
Basic NFS access commonly relies on the client identity presented by the Unix networking stack and is appropriate only when the surrounding network and hosts are trusted. For environments requiring stronger identity assurance, Ubuntu supports Kerberos security flavors:
| Mount security flavor | Provides | Use when |
|---|---|---|
sec=krb5 |
Kerberos authentication | You need authenticated client and server identities. |
sec=krb5i |
Authentication plus integrity protection | You must detect tampering while data crosses the network. |
sec=krb5p |
Authentication, integrity, and privacy | File contents must be protected from network observers as well. |
Kerberos requires a functioning realm, synchronized clocks, principals, and correctly configured client and server services. Add the chosen flavor to the export and client mount configuration only after that infrastructure is ready; otherwise the mount will fail even when the path and permissions are correct.
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RPC-with-TLS considerations
Current Debian exports(5) documentation describes RPC-with-TLS support through tlshd. Availability and configuration details can differ by Ubuntu release, so verify that the target release includes the required components and follow its release-specific procedure rather than assuming a Debian example is portable.
Select an NFS protocol version
The Ubuntu nfs(5) manual describes client support for NFS 3, 4.0, 4.1, and 4.2 when enabled by the kernel configuration. Start with the distribution default, which is normally the best interoperability choice.
Pin a version only when a peer requires it or when troubleshooting a negotiation problem. For example, a temporary test can request NFS version 4:
sudo mount -t nfs -o vers=4 nfs-server:/srv/shared /mnt/sharedThe equivalent persistent option is:
nfs-server:/srv/shared /mnt/shared nfs defaults,_netdev,vers=4 0 0Do not assume that changing vers fixes every failure: export paths, firewall rules, name resolution, authentication flavor, and permissions can independently prevent a mount.
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One export for a controlled subnet
A CIDR declaration is practical when every host in a small, trusted network segment needs identical access:
/srv/shared 192.168.10.0/24(ro,sync,root_squash)This is suitable for common read-only content. It grants access to every address in that range, so keep the subnet limited and avoid placing untrusted devices in it.
Different policies for different clients
When one client needs writing and others need only reading, create separate client declarations with the intended policy and verify the resulting export table. For example:
/srv/shared 192.168.10.42(rw,sync,root_squash)
/srv/shared 192.168.10.43(ro,sync,root_squash)Keep rules unambiguous and inspect them with sudo exportfs -v. A client should never receive broader access merely because it happens to be on a subnet that also contains a trusted writer.
Troubleshoot common failures
| Symptom | Likely cause | Checks and corrective action |
|---|---|---|
mount.nfs: No such file or directory |
Wrong exported path or a missing local mount point. | Confirm the server path in /etc/exports, run sudo exportfs -v on the server, and create the client directory with sudo mkdir -p. |
| Permission denied | Client is outside the allowed declaration, export is ro, or Unix IDs and mode bits do not permit the operation. |
Check the client address, export options, server ownership, and the numeric output of id. |
| Mount hangs or times out | Name resolution, network filtering, service state, or protocol negotiation problem. | Resolve the server name, test reachability, inspect systemctl status nfs-kernel-server.service, and try the distro default version before pinning vers=. |
Changes to /etc/exports have no effect |
The edited file was not reloaded. | Run sudo exportfs -a, then inspect sudo exportfs -v. |
| Files in the mount directory seem to vanish | The NFS filesystem is hiding pre-existing local files. | Unmount the share to reveal them; use a dedicated empty mount point to avoid this ambiguity. |
| Boot pauses because the share is unavailable | The persistent mount requires a server that is offline or not yet reachable. | Confirm _netdev, review whether availability options such as nofail fit the client, and correct the server or network problem. |
| Stale file handle after server-side changes | A file or directory was replaced while a client held an old NFS reference. | Close applications using the path, unmount and remount the share, and avoid renaming or replacing active directory trees during maintenance. |
Change or remove an export safely
Before changing a live export, identify clients that depend on it and schedule the change if applications are writing. Edit /etc/exports, apply the new rules with sudo exportfs -a, and verify the result. To remove a specific active export immediately, use the corresponding exportfs -u form, then remove or update its line in /etc/exports so it does not return after a reload.
On a client, stop processes using the share and run sudo umount /mnt/shared. If the path is listed in fstab, remove or comment out that line before decommissioning the server; otherwise the client will continue trying to mount a nonexistent export at startup.
Deployment checklist
- Install
nfs-kernel-serveronly on the exporting host andnfs-commonon each client. - Create a dedicated export directory and set deliberate server-side ownership and permissions.
- Use a specific host or smallest necessary CIDR range in
/etc/exports. - Select
roorrwaccording to the workload, not convenience. - Keep
root_squashunless a documented requirement justifies another mapping. - Prefer
syncwhen durability matters; accept the risk before choosingasync. - Run
exportfs -aand inspectexportfs -vafter every export change. - Test a live mount at an empty client directory before editing
fstab. - Add the persistent line with
_netdev, runsystemctl daemon-reload, and mount it manually before rebooting. - Use Kerberos flavors when network-level identity, integrity, or privacy requirements exceed local-network trust.
- Leave NFS version negotiation at the Ubuntu default unless interoperability or troubleshooting requires an explicit
vers=value.
With those controls in place, NFS provides a straightforward shared filesystem between Ubuntu servers while keeping the export boundary, write capability, root privileges, durability, and authentication choices explicit.
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