This post describes steps you can take to create NFS shares in Ubuntu Linux and mount them in Windows.
If you ever want to get NFS enabled in Windows environment, then the steps below are a great place to start. It shows you how to connect Windows to NFS shares hosted on Ubuntu Linux.
NFS or Network File System, is a distributed file system that can be enabled in a client/server environment. NFS is very easy to configure for those wanting to allow NFS client machines to access NFS mount points on a server using NFS protocol.
Continue below to get NFS shares created on Ubuntu Linux and mounted in Windows.
For this tutorial, we’re going to be using two systems:
- Ubuntu Computer with IP address 10.0.2.7
- Windows Computer with IP address 10.0.2.4
How to Install NFS on Ubuntu Linux
To get NFS server working you must install the server packages. To do that run the commands below:
sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install nfs-kernel-server
When the server packages are installed. go and configure the folder you want to shares. for this tutorial, we’re going to be sharing an already existing folder. the Home folder for users.
How to export NFS Shares in Ubuntu Linux
So now that NFS server package has been installed on Ubuntu, open its exports file by running the commands below. then share the /home folder to all client on the local subnet (10.0.2.0/24).
sudo nano /etc/exportsThen add the line below into the exports file. this enable the /home folder to be shared with local NFS client omn the local subnet. You can choose to share to the entire subnet or a single computer. just make sure to specify the machine IP address in the definition file.
/home 10.0.2.0/24(rw,no_root_squash)Save the file and exit.
The two definations are defined as:
- no_root_squash = Turn off root squashing. This option is mainly useful for disk-less clients.
- rw = Allow both read and write requests on a NFS volume.
After defining the folder you want to share, run the commands below to restart the NFS service on Ubuntu
sudo systemctl restart nfs-serverHow to enable NFS in Windows
After sharing the folder on the NFS server, open Windows 10 machine and go to Control Panel ==> Programs ==> Programs and Features
Then click on Turn Windows features on or off as shown in the image below
When the config pane opens, select and enable Services for NFS
Click Ok and close out.
That should enable Windows clients to mount NFS shares. now that this feature is enabled on your Windows machine, open the command prompt and mount the share from the NFS server.
mount 10.0.2.7:/home Z:\You should see Windows mount the share.
You can now go to Windows File Explorer and see the mounted share.
That should do it!
