NFS client fails to mount files on server

[raymondvillain]

32 bit server. Want to mount certain directories and files on a client running Jaunty (64 bit). Both machines are desktops. On the server, I've specified the files/directories in the /etc/exports file, and also the IP address of the client:

/srv/netshare 192.168.0.253(rw)

On the client, I've added a line to /etc/fstab:

SERVER_NAME:/srv/netshare /mnt nfs _netdev,rsize=8192,wsize=8192,soft 0 0

I thought this would mount the /srv/netshare directory located on the server SERVER_NAME at point /mnt on the client, but when I open Nautilus and navigate to /mnt, it says "...loading" and nothing else happens.

In a terminal window I can see that nothing has been mounted on /mnt.

What else is necessary in order to use this procedure successfully?

[volkswagner]

I have used this NFS-HowTo (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=249889).



Hope it helps.

EDIT: I am not sure /mnt is the best place to mount. I am not sure but you may want to verify that /mnt is not created on each boot.

[yeats]

on the client, what happens when you

sudo mount -a

?

[AndyCooll]

As volkwagner says, for starters you shouldn't be mounting directly on to the /mnt directory create a folder within the /mnt directory itself, e.g.
sudo mkdir /mnt/netshare
and then mount your folder on to that.

See if that makes a difference and report back

:cool:

[raymondvillain]

Well, thanks for all the help.

Chrissharp123 suggested "sudo mount -a"

When I did that I thought nothing happened because the command prompt just popped back up, but maybe it did something. Anyway, there was no output.

I also tried AndyCooll's suggestion to create another directory, /mnt/netshare, and use it instead of just /mnt.

The result of all this fumbling about is that now I think its working.

I saved a file on the client, and, using nautilus on the server, I can see it where it ought to be.

I am working my way through the NFS tutorial suggested by volkswagner.

Thanks again, all.

[yeats]

When I did that I thought nothing happened because the command prompt just popped back up, but maybe it did something. Anyway, there was no output.

A principle in Linux is "no news is good news", so when commands succeed, you get the prompt back. This means that the mount -a command mounted everything defined in /etc/fstab without problems. You can always verify what is mounted on your system by doing:

mount

[raymondvillain]

Thanks, chrissharp123. Does this mean I need to issue the mount command every time I log on, in order to access the share?

I know this sounds like a beginner's question, but I am really green about server stuff.

I'm marking this one SOLVED.

[yeats]

Thanks, chrissharp123. Does this mean I need to issue the mount command every time I log on, in order to access the share?

You said:

On the client, I've added a line to /etc/fstab:

SERVER_NAME:/srv/netshare /mnt nfs _netdev,rsize=8192,wsize=8192,soft 0 0

/etc/fstab is where your computer looks to know which filesystems to mount at boot time. This should take care of it.

I know this sounds like a beginner's question, but I am really green about server stuff.

No need to apologize. All of us had to start somewhere.