How to Set Up an NFS Server

What is NFS ?

NFS stands for Network File System, and it is a distributed file protocol that allows a user on a client computer to access files over a network as if they were on the local storage of the client. NFS was originally developed by Sun Microsystems in the 1980s and has since become a widely used protocol for sharing files and resources between computers in a networked environment, especially in UNIX and Linux-based systems.

NFS enables remote access to files by allowing a client system to mount a remote server's file system as if it were a local directory. This allows users to read, write, and manage files on the remote server just as they would on their local machine. The protocol handles various tasks related to authentication, access control, and data transfer between the client and the server.

There have been multiple versions of the NFS protocol, each with improvements in terms of performance, security, and features. Some commonly used versions include NFSv2, NFSv3, and NFSv4. NFSv4, in particular, introduced significant security enhancements and better support for modern network environments.

Overall, NFS is a useful tool for sharing files and resources in networked environments, often used in settings where multiple computers need to access and collaborate on the same files or data.

How to Configure NFS?

Configuring NFS on Red Hat Linux involves a few steps to set up the server (exporting directories) and the client (mounting those exported directories). Here's a basic guide to help you get started:

1. Install the Required Packages: Ensure that the necessary packages are installed on both the server and client machines.

On the server:

bash
sudo yum install nfs-utils

On the client:

bash
sudo yum install nfs-utils

2. Configure the Server:

Step 1: Edit the exports file to specify which directories you want to share. Open the exports file with a text editor:

bash
sudo vi /etc/exports

Step 2: Add the directories you want to share, along with their permissions and client restrictions. The format is as follows:

plaintext
/path/to/directory client_IP(options)

For example, to export the directory /shared to a client with IP address 192.168.1.100 with read-only access, you would add:

plaintext
/shared 192.168.1.100(ro)

Step 3: After editing the exports file, save and exit the text editor.

Step 4: Start and enable the NFS server:

bash
sudo systemctl start nfs-server
sudo systemctl enable nfs-server

3. Configure the Client:

Step 1: Create a directory where you want to mount the shared NFS directory:

bash
sudo mkdir /mnt/nfs_share

Step 2: Mount the NFS share on the client:

bash
sudo mount server_IP:/path/to/shared/directory /mnt/nfs_share

Replace server_IP with the IP address of the NFS server and /path/to/shared/directory with the actual path on the server.

Step 3: To make the NFS share mount automatically on boot, you can add an entry to the /etc/fstab file:

plaintext
server_IP:/path/to/shared/directory /mnt/nfs_share nfs defaults 0 0

Step 4: After editing the fstab file, save and exit the text editor.

Step 5: Mount the NFS share defined in fstab:

bash
sudo mount -a

4. Test the Setup:

You should now be able to access the shared NFS directory on the client at /mnt/nfs_share.

Remember that this is a basic setup guide. Depending on your requirements and security considerations, you might need to adjust the settings and permissions. Additionally, consider implementing proper firewall rules and security measures to ensure the safety of your NFS setup.