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Configure AutoFS to Automatically Mount Filesystems

`autofs` allows file systems to be automatically mounted when they are accessed. In this hands-on lab, you are tasked with configuring a series of mounts using `autofs`.

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Lab platform
Lab Info
Level
Intermediate
Last updated
Sep 08, 2025
Duration
30m

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Table of Contents
  1. Challenge

    Install the `autofs` Package and Start and Enable the `autofs` Service
    1. Use the yum command to install the autofs package:

      yum install -y autofs
      
    2. Start and enable the autofs service:

      systemctl enable autofs --now
      
  2. Challenge

    Create an Indirect Mount at `/mnt/marketing`
    1. Create the /mnt/marketing directory:

      mkdir /mnt/marketing
      
    2. Use a text editor to add the following entry to /etc/auto.master for /mnt/marketing:

      /mnt/marketing /etc/auto.marketing
      
    3. Create a map file for /mnt/marketing called /etc/auto.marketing with the following contents:

      assets -fstype=xfs :/dev/xvdg1
      backup -fstype=btrfs,ro :/dev/xvdg2
      
    4. Restart the autofs service to apply the changes:

      systemctl restart autofs
      
  3. Challenge

    Create a Direct Mount at `/mnt/admin/data`
    1. Use a text editor to add the following entry to /etc/auto.master:

      /- /etc/auto.admin
      
    2. Create a map file for the entry called /etc/auto.admin with the following contents:

      /mnt/admin/data -fstype=ext4 :/dev/xvdg3
      
    3. Restart the autofs service to apply the changes:

      systemctl restart autofs
      
  4. Challenge

    Create a Direct Mount at `/mnt/user/data`
    1. Use a text editor to add the following entry to /etc/auto.master:

      /- /etc/auto.user --timeout=3600
      
    2. Create a map file for the entry called /etc/auto.user with the following contents:

      /mnt/user/data -fstype=ext2 :/dev/xvdg4
      
    3. Restart the autofs service to apply the changes:

      systemctl restart autofs
      
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