NFS

Setup guide for sharing files over a local network using NFS between Linux and Unix-like systems.

Server

Install
Section titled “Install”

Install the NFS server package to enable file sharing.
Terminal window
```
sudo apt update && sudo apt install nfs-kernel-server -y
```
Add export
Section titled “Add export”

Define the directory to share and specify client access in the NFS exports file.
Terminal window
```
echo "{{NFS_SHARE_VAR}} {{CLIENT_IP_VAR}}(rw,sync,no_subtree_check)" | sudo tee -a /etc/exports
```
Apply export
Section titled “Apply export”

Reload the NFS exports to apply the changes.
Terminal window
```
sudo exportfs -ra
```
Allow through firewall (optional)
Section titled “Allow through firewall (optional)”

Open the NFS port to allow access from the specified client IP.
Terminal window
```
sudo ufw allow from {{CLIENT_IP_VAR}} to any port nfs
```

Client

Install
Section titled “Install”

Install the NFS client package to enable mounting remote shares.
Terminal window
```
sudo apt update && sudo apt install nfs-common -y
```
Create mount point
Section titled “Create mount point”

Make a local directory where the shared files will be mounted.
Terminal window
```
mkdir -p {{NFS_MOUNT_VAR}}
```
Manual mount
Section titled “Manual mount”

Mount the shared directory manually from the server to the local mount point.
Terminal window
```
sudo mount {{SERVER_IP_VAR}}:{{NFS_SHARE_VAR}} {{NFS_MOUNT_VAR}}
```

Automount

Add an entry to /etc/fstab to mount the share automatically on boot.

sudo nano /etc/fstab

{SERVER_IP_VAR}:{{NFS_SHARE_VAR}}  {{NFS_MOUNT_VAR}}  nfs  noauto,x-systemd.automount,_netdev,nofail,timeo=5,retrans=2  0  0

Unmount
Section titled “Unmount”

Unmount the shared directory. The -l (lazy) flag defers unmounting until the directory is no longer in use.
Terminal window
```
sudo umount -l {{NFS_MOUNT_VAR}}
```