NFS stands for Network File System is a network file sharing protocol that allows you to share files and directories over the network. You can mount the file systems over a network and use them as your local drive. NFS server is a client-server architecture where multiple clients can mount the shared drive from the NFS server and share resources between Linux systems. By using NFS, you can save space and the cost of storage, especially when you are using cloud instances.
In this guide, You will learn how to set up the NFS server on Alma Linux.
Prerequisites
1. A server running Alma Linux and having a static IP address with root privileges.
2. A client running Alma Linux with sudo privileges.
Step 1: Update OS
Before starting the NFS server installation, update your base system by executing the following command:
| sudo dnf update -y |
Step 2: Install and configure NFS Server
On your server system, install nfs-utils package by running the following command:
| sudo dnf -y install nfs-utils |
Now start the NFS service and enable it to auto-start at system boot time, then verify the NFS service status with the following command:
| systemctl start nfs-server.service |
| systemctl enable nfs-server.service |
| systemctl status nfs-server.service |
Step 3: Create and Export NFS share Directory
Next, you need to create an NFS share directory on your NFS server that you want to access on your client’s system. Execute the below command to create a shared directory:
| mkdir -p /mnt/nfsshare |
Now, create some files into that shared directory:
| touch /nfsshare/file1.txt |
| touch /nfsshare/file2.txt |
Next, Set proper permissions on nfsshare directory:
| chown nobody:nobody /mnt/nfsshare |
| chmod 755 /mnt/nfsshare |
Step 4: Configure the Export Directory
Now, edit the NFS server configuration file and define the path of the directory that you want to share. To edit the file, run the following command:
| vim /etc/exports |
Now add the following line:
| /mnt/nfsshare 188.166.51.227(rw,sync,no_subtree_check) |
Here, You need to replace the IP address with your client’s IP address. You have to define permission for each client.
rw: The client can read and write on the shared directory.
Sync: This will reply to requests only after the changes have been committed to stable storage.
no_subtree_check: Do not check subtree.
To verify the export, the list executes the below command:
| exportfs -s |
Step 5: Install and Configure NFS Client
Next, you need to install the following packages on your client system to configure the NFS client:
| sudo dnf install nfs-utils nfs4-acl-tools |
After installation, start and enable nfs-client service on the client system:
| sudo systemctl start nfs-client.target |
| sudo systemctl enable nfs-client.target |
To verify the service status, run the following command:
| sudo systemctl status nfs-client.target |
Now, on the client system, you can see the mount information of the NFS server using the following command:
| showmount -e 104.248.81.208 |
Note that you need to replace the IP address with your NFS server IP address.
Now, create a directory and mount the remote shared directory on that directory using the following command:
| mkdir -p /mnt/nfs_mount |
| mount 104.248.81.208:/mnt/nfsshare /mnt/nfs_mount |
Next, verify the NFS mount using the below command:
| df -h |
You should see output like below:
You can see that your NFS drive mounted successfully.
Next, If you want to mount your NFS drive Permanently even after a system reboot, then update /etc/fstab the file on your client system.
| vim /etc/fstab |
Then, add your NFS mount point as shown in the below command:
| 104.248.81.208:/mnt/nfsshare /mnt/nfs_mount nfs defaults 0 0 |
Now, verify your NFS share drive working by creating a file on the NFS client by running the following command:
| touch /mnt/nfs_mount/test_file1.txt |
Then, Go to your NFS server shared directory and execute the below command:
| ll /mnt/nfsshare/test_file1.txt |
Conclusion
Congratulations! You have successfully set up NFS server on Alma Linux and you also learn to access the NFS share from the client machine. Please have no hesitation to ask me if you have any queries.
