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.

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