EXPORTFS(4) EXPORTFS(4)
NAME
exportfs - network file server plumbing
SYNOPSIS
exportfs [ -a ] [ -c ctlfile ]
DESCRIPTION
Exportfs is a user level file server that allows Plan 9 com-
pute servers, rather than file servers, to export portions
of name space across networks. The service is started
either by the cpu(1) command or by a network listener pro-
cess. An initial protocol establishes a root directory for
the exported name space. The connection to exportfs is then
mounted. Exportfs then acts as a relay file server: opera-
tions in the imported file tree are executed on the remote
server and the results returned. This gives the appearance
of exporting a name space from a remote machine into a local
file tree.
The -a option instructs exportfs to authenticate the user,
usually because it is being invoked from a remote machine.
The -c options specifies a network control file onto which
exportfs will push the fcall line discipline. This option
is intended for networks that do not preserve read/write
boundaries.
The cpu command uses exportfs to serve device files in the
terminal. The import(4) command calls exportfs on a remote
machine, permitting users to access arbitrary pieces of name
space on other systems.
Page 1 Plan 9 (printed 12/22/24)