NFS Services Administrator's Guide (B.11.31.02) January 2008

/sbin/init.d/autofs start
Notes on AutoFS Master Map
The AutoFS master map file, /etc/auto_master by default, determines the locations of all
AutoFS mount-points. At system startup, the automount command reads the master map to
create the initial set of AutoFS mounts. Subsequent to system startup, the automount command
maybe run to install AutoFS mounts for new entries in the master map or a direct map, or to
perform unmounts for entries that have been removed from these maps.
Following is a syntax of an auto_master file:
mount-point map-name [mount-options]
where:
mount-point Directory on which an AutoFS mount is made.
map-name Map associated with mount-point specifying locations of filesystems to
mount.
mount-options
Options that apply to the maps specified by map-name.
If the first field specifies the directory as /-, then the second field is the name of the direct map.
The master map file, like any other map file, may be distributed by NIS or LDAP by modifying
the appropriate configuration files and removing any existing /etc/auto_master master map
file.
NOTE: If the same mount-point is used in two entries, the first entry is used by the automount
command. The second entry is ignored.
You must run the automount command after you modify the master map or a direct map.
Following is a sample auto_master file:
# Master map for AutoFS
#
#auto_master
#mount-point map-name [mount-options]
/net -hosts -nosuid,nobrowse #Special Map
/home auto_home -nobrowse #Indirect Map
/- /etc/auto_direct #Direct Map
/nfs /etc/auto_indirect #Indirect Map
The master map is a primary map that defines all other maps. In this sample, auto_master,
the master map, contains a single entry each for a direct map and a special map. It also contains
a single entry for each top-level indirect map.
Deciding Between Direct and Indirect Automounts
Before you automount a remote directory, you must decide if you want to use a direct or indirect
AutoFS map.
Table 3-4 lists the advantages and disadvantages of direct and indirect AutoFS maps.
Table 3-4 Direct Versus Indirect AutoFS Map Types
Indirect MapDirect Map
Advantage: AutoFS enables you to view the available
mount-points for indirect maps without actually mounting
each filesystem when browsability is enabled by default.
Advantage: You can view the contents of a direct-mounted
directory using the ls command. If the contents are not
currently mounted, the ls command mounts them.
Disadvantage: An indirect map hides any local,
standard-mounted, or direct-mounted files or directories
under the mount-point for the map.
Advantage: Direct-mounted automounted directories can
export the same parent directory with local, or
standard-mounted files and directories.
Notes on AutoFS Master Map 65