NFS Services Administrator's Guide

Configuring and Administering NFS
Configuring and Administering an NFS Client
Chapter 238
Table 2-1 Standard-Mounted vs. Automounted Directories
Standard-Mounted
Directory
Automounted
Directory (using
AutoFS)
Automounted
Directory (using
Automounter)
Advantage:
Configuration is
simpler than for
automounted
directories. Only one
file (/etc/fstab) is
used to configure
standard mounts.
Disadvantage:
Configuration can be
more complicated than
for standard mounts.
Multiple files are usually
required to configure
AutoFS.
Disadvantage:
Configuration can be
more complicated than
for standard mounts.
Multiple files are
usually required to
configure the
Automounter.
Advantage: Standard
mounts can be added
and removed easily
during run time,
without interrupting
NFS access to other
directories.
Advantage: Directories
mounted using AutoFS
can be added and
removed easily during
run time, without
interrupting NFS access
to other directories.
Disadvantage: Some
automounted
directories can be
changed easily during
run time, but others
cannot be changed,
added, or removed
without restarting the
automounter.
Advantage: The
directory stays
mounted, so you never
have to wait for it to be
mounted after you
issue a read or write
request.
Disadvantage: If the
automounted directory
has timed out and been
unmounted, and you
attempt to read it or
write to it, you may have
to wait a few seconds for
it to be mounted again.
Disadvantage: If the
automounted directory
has timed out and been
unmounted, and you
attempt to read it or
write to it, you may
have to wait a few
seconds for it to be
mounted again.