How to Setup Windows NFS Server in Azure/AWS/GCP

Once logged in you are now ready to start creating shares as per the following instructions.

Create NFS Share

01 – Open Server Manager and Click File and Storage Services.

02 – Select Shares on the left pane and click TASKS – New Share.

03 – For example, select NFS Share – Quick on here.

04 – For example, configure a specific folder as shared one, so check a box Type a custom path and input the path for specific folder you’d like to set as shared folder. (set as “Share” on this example).

05 – Input local and remote share path.

06 – Specify authentication methods.

07 – Set the share permissions. Click Add button.

08 – Specify the Hosts you’d like to grant access permissions like the example below.

09 – Click Next button.

10 – Specify permissions to control access on here.

11 – Confirm selections and it’s no problem, Click Create button.

12 – After finishing creating, Click Close button.

13 – NFS shared folder has been just configured.

Connecting to NFS Share

Now you have made the share, you can now tell your users to connect.

Mounting NFS Share on Windows

If they are using a windows client they can map a network drive to the share:

1. First open up “This PC” and select Computer from the menu at the top. From here click on Map network drive, as shown below.
2. The Map Network Drive window will open, select the drive letter that you want to assign to the NFS share, followed by the IP address or hostname of the NFS server as well as the path to the exported NFS directory. Click the Finish button when complete.You may see a pop up window showing that the connection is being attempted. Once complete the shared NFS folder will open up.

1. When you view “This PC” you will see the mapped network drive under Network location. This method is better than adding the network location as we’ll discuss next as it clearly shows how much disk space on the NFS share is in use and how much is still available.

Mounting NFS Share on Linux

If using Linux or UNIX, Create a directory in the /mnt directory. This is the local mount path. Once created, be sure you are inside the directory when you mount the nfs share on the Windows system.

Type in the following command on the Linux box to mount the share (mounting is similar to mapping a drive in Windows)

mount -t nfs :/  /

EXAMPLE: mount -t nfs WinServer1:/grpwise/po1 /mnt/reload/po1 (be sure to create /mnt/reload/po1)

Test the mount by creating a text file within the new NFS Share and check that you can see it on both systems.

NFS Server Firewall Ports

The following firewall ports will need to be opened on your clients and any firewall rules / Security groups sitting inbetween your clients and NFS server

Server for NFS – RPC port multiplexer

TCP 2049
UDP 2049

Portmap for UNIX-based Software (TCP-In)

TCP 111
UDP 111

File Server Remote Management (SMB-In)

TCP/UDP 445
TCP 135

NFS Server Support

If you have any questions about the setup of our NFS solution , leave your comments below and we will reply within 24 hours.

Alternatively have a look at this MS documentation

Want some help (hire us)?

If you would like us to implement the NFS server into your environment and fully configure it and get it up and running, get in contact with us and we will get you up and running asap