📖 ~1 min read
Table of contents
Symptom & Impact
Client cannot mount NFS export, blocking shared storage access for applications.
Environment & Reproduction
RHEL 8 NFS server and client; attempt mount command and receive access denied response.
Root Cause Analysis
Server export ACL mismatch, firewall port closure, SELinux context issues, or rpcbind service state problems.
Quick Triage
Validate server export list and ensure `nfs-server` and related services are active via `systemctl`.
Step-by-Step Diagnosis
Check `/etc/exports`, run `exportfs -v`, test `showmount -e`, and inspect `firewall-cmd –list-services` plus AVC logs.
Solution – Primary Fix
Correct export CIDR and options, run `exportfs -ra`, open required NFS services in firewalld, and retry mount.
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Solution – Alternative Approaches
Use Kerberos-secured NFSv4 with explicit principal mapping where security policy requires stronger auth.
Verification & Acceptance Criteria
Mount succeeds, read/write tests pass per policy, and server logs show no access denied events.
Rollback Plan
Restore previous export file and firewalld rules if updated settings disrupt existing clients.
Prevention & Hardening
Manage exports as code, use least-privilege network ranges, and audit SELinux booleans for NFS usage.
Related Errors & Cross-Refs
`mount.nfs: access denied by server`, RPC timeout, and stale file handle reports.
Related tutorial: View the step-by-step tutorial for rhel-8.
View all rhel-8 tutorials on the Tutorials Hub →
Browse all common problems & solutions on the Tutorials Hub.
References & Further Reading
RHEL storage docs, `exports(5)`, and NFSv4 security and performance guidance.
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