Featured resource
2025 Tech Upskilling Playbook
Tech Upskilling Playbook

Build future-ready tech teams and hit key business milestones with seven proven plays from industry leaders.

Check it out
  • Lab
    • Libraries: If you want this lab, consider one of these libraries.
    • Cloud
Google Cloud Platform icon
Labs

Network Filesystems

Implementing network fileshares, Linux servers, and clients is a key skill for any experienced system administrator. In this activity, we will be working to set up both a Linux Samba fileshare and an NFS fileshare that can then be used by a remote client to store files on. Once you complete this activity, you will understand how to configure network filesystems. *This course is not approved or sponsored by Red Hat.*

Google Cloud Platform icon
Lab platform
Lab Info
Level
Intermediate
Last updated
Jul 12, 2025
Duration
30m

Contact sales

By filling out this form and clicking submit, you acknowledge our privacy policy.
Table of Contents
  1. Challenge

    Set Up a Samba Share
    1. Install the Samba packages:

      yum install samba -y
      
    2. Edit /etc/samba/smb.conf and add the following section at the bottom:

      [share]
              browsable = yes
              path = /smb
              writable = yes
      

      Save and exit.

    3. Create a user to share the mount point:

      useradd shareuser
      
      smbpasswd -a shareuser
      
    4. Create the directory we're sharing out:

      mkdir /smb
      
    5. Start the smb service:

      systemctl start smb
      
    6. Make sure the client can write to the directory:

      chmod 777 /smb
      
    7. On the client, run:

      mkdir /mnt/smb
      
    8. On the client, install the CIFS utilities:

      yum install cifs-utils -y
      
    9. On the client, run:

      mount -t cifs //<IP_OF_SERVER>/share /mnt/smb -o username=shareuser,password=<PASSWORD_SET_WITH_SMBPASSWD>
      
  2. Challenge

    Set Up the NFS Share
    1. Install the required package:

      yum install nfs-utils -y
      
    2. Create the mount point that will be served out:

      mkdir /nfs
      
    3. Edit /etc/exports, adding the following line:

      /nfs *(rw)
      

      Save and exit the file.

    4. Make sure it's writable:

      chmod 777 /nfs
      
    5. Export the directory we've configured in /etc/exports:

      exportfs -a
      
    6. Start the required services:

      systemctl start {rpcbind,nfs-server,rpc-statd,nfs-idmapd}
      
    7. On the client, install the required package:

      yum install nfs-utils -y
      
    8. Create the mount point:

      mkdir /mnt/nfs
      
    9. Check to see what's being shared out on the NFS server:

      showmount -e <NFS_SERVER_IP>
      
    10. Start the required service:

      systemctl start rpcbind
      
    11. Mount it:

      mount -t nfs <NFS_SERVER_IP>:/nfs /mnt/nfs
      
About the author

Pluralsight Skills gives leaders confidence they have the skills needed to execute technology strategy. Technology teams can benchmark expertise across roles, speed up release cycles and build reliable, secure products. By leveraging our expert content, skill assessments and one-of-a-kind analytics, keep up with the pace of change, put the right people on the right projects and boost productivity. It's the most effective path to developing tech skills at scale.

Real skill practice before real-world application

Hands-on Labs are real environments created by industry experts to help you learn. These environments help you gain knowledge and experience, practice without compromising your system, test without risk, destroy without fear, and let you learn from your mistakes. Hands-on Labs: practice your skills before delivering in the real world.

Learn by doing

Engage hands-on with the tools and technologies you’re learning. You pick the skill, we provide the credentials and environment.

Follow your guide

All labs have detailed instructions and objectives, guiding you through the learning process and ensuring you understand every step.

Turn time into mastery

On average, you retain 75% more of your learning if you take time to practice. Hands-on labs set you up for success to make those skills stick.

Get started with Pluralsight