how can I make an nfs export more robust if server is down

graysky · 2011-06-22 07:29:51

I'm using nfsv4 to share between nodes on my LAN. Usually everything works great, but in the scenario of the nfs server getting shutoff, the nodes come unresponsive if a program attempts to access the now defunct NFS share. Is there anything I can do to change this behavior?

For example, if I attempt to umount the share on the node, even a "force lazy" the process just hangs; if I try to reboot the node, it hangs on trying to umount file systems. I found that I can comment out the corresponding entries in /etc/mtab and then reboot, but this is a manual process. I'd like it to be more robust.

Last edited by graysky (2011-06-22 07:43:21)

sand_man · 2011-06-22 08:22:41

I understand what you mean but I'm not sure what causes it.
Have you tried mounting as both hard and soft to see if either makes a difference? Also I'm wondering if there is a timeout period where it just gives up.

fukawi2 · 2011-06-22 08:22:59

Are you using the 'soft' mount option?

EDIT: Too slow

Last edited by fukawi2 (2011-06-22 08:23:29)

Damnshock · 2011-06-22 10:46:25

graysky wrote:

I'm using nfsv4 to share between nodes on my LAN. Usually everything works great, but in the scenario of the nfs server getting shutoff, the nodes come unresponsive if a program attempts to access the now defunct NFS share. Is there anything I can do to change this behavior?
For example, if I attempt to umount the share on the node, even a "force lazy" the process just hangs; if I try to reboot the node, it hangs on trying to umount file systems. I found that I can comment out the corresponding entries in /etc/mtab and then reboot, but this is a manual process. I'd like it to be more robust.

Use automount/autofs

graysky · 2011-06-22 21:12:51

Hi guys - just found out about the soft mount option for nfs thanks to your post. Since I specified no option, they were hard mounts. I have since modified them to be soft but the problem persists.

1) I stop the nfs server on the server
2) I issue a shutdown to the node but the process hangs

$ mount|grep work
mars:/work on /media/work type nfs (rw,soft,vers=4,addr=192.168.1.12,clientaddr=192.168.1.13)

Last edited by graysky (2011-06-22 21:13:19)

fukawi2 · 2011-06-22 23:10:17

graysky wrote:

I have since modified them to be soft but the problem persists.

FWIW, I see the same issue during shutdown with my mounts if they fail, but they _do_ timeout after a couple of minutes... I only reboot once every month or 2 so I haven't bothered to try making it timeout faster.

Arch Linux

#1 2011-06-22 07:29:51

how can I make an nfs export more robust if server is down

#2 2011-06-22 08:22:41

Re: how can I make an nfs export more robust if server is down

#3 2011-06-22 08:22:59

Re: how can I make an nfs export more robust if server is down

#4 2011-06-22 10:46:25

Re: how can I make an nfs export more robust if server is down

#5 2011-06-22 21:12:51

Re: how can I make an nfs export more robust if server is down

#6 2011-06-22 23:10:17

Re: how can I make an nfs export more robust if server is down

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