🧭 NFS Mount Troubleshooting Runbook

Use this flow top to bottom. Stop once the issue is resolved.

🔴 START — NFS mount issue reported

⬇️

❓ Is the mount visible?

ls <mount_point>

❌ NO — Mount not present

⬇️

🌐 Check NFS server reachability

ping <nfs-server>
showmount -e <nfs-server>

❌ Fails → Network / server issue ✅ Works → Continue

⬇️

🔀 Determine mount type

autofs

systemctl status autofs
journalctl -u autofs -f
cat /etc/auto.nfs

fstab

grep <mount_point> /etc/fstab
mount -a

❌ Errors → Fix configuration & retry ✅ No errors → Continue

⬇️

❓ Is the mount present but inaccessible?

ls <mount_point>

❌ Permission denied

⬇️

🔐 Check permissions & identity

ls -ln <mount_point>

On NFS server:

exportfs -v

✔ Fix UID/GID mismatch or export rules ⬇️ Retry access

❓ Is access slow or hanging?

🐌 YES — Timeouts or freezes

⬇️

🕒 Tune NFS options

Recommended:

rw,hard,proto=tcp,timeo=1200,retrans=5

Check:

⬇️ Retry access

❓ Unable to unmount?

umount <mount_point>

❌ “Device or resource busy”

⬇️

🔍 Find open files

lsof | grep <mount_point>
fuser -m <mount_point>

autofs only:

lsof | grep /nfs/<mount_name>

⚠️ Last resort:

umount -l <mount_point>

❓ Changes not persisting after reboot?

⬇️

🔄 Verify configuration source

fstab

grep <mount_point> /etc/fstab

autofs

cat /etc/auto.master
cat /etc/auto.nfs
systemctl restart autofs

⬇️ Reboot test if required

❓ Service or mount command fails?

⬇️

🚫 Debug directly

autofs

autofs -f
journalctl -xe

fstab

mount -av
dmesg | tail

✅ END — Issue resolved

If unresolved:

🧠 Operator Notes

grep nfs /proc/mounts