NFS Services Administrator's Guide

Configuring and Administering AutoFS
Automounting a Remote Directory Using an Indirect Map
Chapter 3122
Indirect maps are usually called /etc/auto_
name , where name helps you
remember what is configured in the map.
If the indirect map name in the AutoFS master map begins with a slash
(/), AutoFS assumes that it is a local file. If it does not contain a slash,
AutoFS uses the Name Service Switch to determine whether it is a file,
LDAP, or an NIS map. For more information on configuring the name
service switch, see nsswitch.conf (4).
Sample File Entries for NFS Indirect Automounts
Following are sample lines from the AutoFS master map on the NFS
client, sage. The master map also includes an entry for the
/etc/auto_direct direct map.
# /etc/auto_master file
# local mount point map name mount options
/- /etc/auto_direct
/nfs/desktop /etc/auto_desktop
Following are sample lines from an AutoFS indirect map on the NFS
client, sage. The hash (#) symbol indicates a commented line.
# /etc/auto_desktop file
# local mount point mount options remote server:directory
draw -nosuid thyme:/export/apps/draw
write -nosuid basil:/export/write
Figure 3-4 illustrates how AutoFS sets up indirect mounts.