Mounting NFS file systems on Unix/Linux Which command is used to mount a remote NFS export into the local directory tree?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: mount

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Network File System (NFS) allows directories to be shared across machines. On the client side, the standard way to attach a remote NFS export to a local mount point is with the system's mount utility. Recognizing the correct tool avoids confusion with server daemons and legacy helper names.



Given Data / Assumptions:

  • A remote NFS server exports a directory (for example, server:/share).
  • We need to mount it locally (for example, at /mnt/share).
  • Appropriate NFS client packages are installed.


Concept / Approach:

The mount command is the general-purpose utility for attaching filesystems. With NFS, you either specify the -t nfs or rely on autodetection. Systemd-based systems may also use mount units or fstab entries, but the underlying action still uses mount to bind the remote export into the local namespace.



Step-by-Step Solution:

Create a local mount point: mkdir -p /mnt/share.Run: mount -t nfs server:/share /mnt/share.Verify with: df -h or mount | grep /mnt/share.For persistence, add a line to /etc/fstab with the nfs type and options.


Verification / Alternative check:

Confirm access by listing contents (ls /mnt/share). If mounting fails, check firewall, exports on the server (/etc/exports), and version negotiation (for example, vers=3 or vers=4).



Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • nfsmount: largely historical/legacy helper; modern systems use mount directly.
  • knfsd: refers to kernel NFS server daemon side, not the client command.
  • All of the above: inaccurate because the correct, current client command is mount.
  • None of the above: incorrect because mount is correct.


Common Pitfalls:

Forgetting to create the mount point, missing user-space rpcbind or nfs-utils on older setups, and neglecting to specify correct mount options for performance and security.


Final Answer:

mount

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