OPS335 NFS Lab

NFS and Automount

In this lab you'll set up a Fedora 16 host as an NFS (Network File System) server. Then you'll set up a Fedora 16 guest VM (Virtual Machine) that will import its /home directory from this host.

Prerequisites
Before you begin make sure your Fedora 16 host and virtual machines are up to date (yum update).
Ensure both host and VM's have firewalls set up according to prior labs. And ensure you are using your learnid account (the first user created)

Part A: Setting up the Guest VM

1. Ensure the VM guest network is functioning properly. You can use the "host cbc.ca" command to see if DNS queries are being answered.
2. Ensure you have full connectivity to the internet.
3. Be sure to set the firewall on both your VM and host according to prior labs. Use the command iptables-save to verify.
4. Once your VM guest network is working use the ifconfig command and record the IP adddress of your VM guest. The address should be something like 192.168.122.yyy.
5. Install the NFS software on both vm03 and your host using the command "yum install nfs-utils".
6. Add the following line to the bottom of the /etc/fstab file on vm03

  	192.168.x.1:/home  	/home	nfs	defaults	0	0

• Logout of vm03 and shut it down.

Part B: Setting up the NFS Server on the Host

• On your Fedora host machine edit /etc/exports so that it contains ONLY the following line (where 192.168.122.yyy is the IP address of your guest VM):

 /home 192.168.x.4(rw,root_squash,insecure)

1. Start your nfs server with the command 'systemctl start nfs'. NOTE: You'll have to adjust your firewall on the host to get NFS to work. Run netstat to determine the ports needed.
2. Start up vm03 and login using your learnid.
3. Back on your host PC run and record the output of the 'exportfs' and 'showmount -e' commands.
4. On vm03, create an empty file using the touch command.
5. Now shutdown vm03.

• Back on your host PC, run and record the output of the 'ls -l' command.
• Shutdown the nfs server with the command "systemctl stop nfs-server.service".

Part C: Setting up Automount on the VM

• Start up vm01, login as joker and switch to root.
• Remove the line from /etc/fstab that you entered in PART A.
• Install automount (yum install autofs) if it's not already installed.
• Edit the file /etc/auto.master so that it contains ONLY the following line:

/home   /etc/auto.home   --timeout=60

• Edit the file /etc/auto.home so that it contains ONLY the following line:

*        -fstype=nfs,rw,nosuid,soft      192.168.122.1:/home/&

• Start autofs with the command

service autofs start

• Log out of vm01 and back on the host start the nfs server.
• Log into vm01 as joker.

1. Create another empty file with the name another_empty_file.
2. Run and record the output of the "df -Th" command.
3. Back on the host machine as joker, run and record the output of the "ls -l" command.

Completing the Lab

Answer the following questions

1. What is your full name and 9 digit Seneca student ID?
2. Show the exact output recorded in Part B (df -Th, exportfs, showmount -e and ls -l)
3. Show the exact output recorded in Part C. (df -Th, ls -l)
4. Explain in your own words the meaning of the no_root_squash option for an NFS mount.
5. Explain the meaning of the defaults option to the mount command.
6. What is the function of the 'exportfs' command?
7. What is the purpose of the 'showmount' command?
8. What is the meaning of the "timeout=60" phrase in Part C?
9. What is the meaning of the asterisk (*) in Part C?
10. What is the meaning of the ampersand (&) in Part C?
11. What is the role of the /etc/mtab file on the host?
12. What port does nfs use?