Enabling network (NFS) shares in Mac OS X

Autodesk Support

Oct 8, 2023

Products and versions covered

Issue:

 
 

NFS is the best way to share files and directories over the network between Mac and Linux workstations.

This article provides instructions on creating NFS shares in Mac OS X 10.5 or higher.

Solution:

In this example, we'll make the /Users folder on the Mac available to other computers on the network.

  1. Open the Terminal from /Applications/Utilities.
     
  2. Type the following command to edit the /etc/exports file:
    sudo nano /etc/exports 
     
  3. Enter your password when prompted.
     
  4. Add a line to file similar to the following example (change the IP address and mask to the one used by your network. Ask your network administrator for this information):
    /Users -network 192.168.0.0 -mask 255.255.0.0 
     
  5. Press control+o and then Enter to save the file.
     
  6. Press control+x to exit the text editor.
      
  7. Type the following command to enable nfsd:
    sudo nfsd enable
     
  8. Type the following command to test that the sharing is properly enabled.:
    showmount -e
     
    This command output should be similar to the following:
    /Users                                Everyone
     
    Linux or Mac computers on your network should now be able to mount the /Users directory on this Mac.
    (In Linux use the mount -t nfs command, or the amd automounter. On another Mac, open Finder, press SHIFT+CTRL+G and enter /net/<hostname_of_sharing_Mac>/Users).

     

 

Products:

All Desktop Products;

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