Connecting Windows and Linux systems is commonplace in modern IT environments. One way to facilitate file transfers between these operating systems is through Network File System (NFS) shares. Mounting an NFS share allows a Windows 2012 machine to access files stored on a Linux server as if they were local.

An Introduction to NFS

The Network File System is a tried and tested protocol that has been around since the 1980s. It allows remote hosts to mount file systems over a network and interact with those files as though they are located on that local machine.

In a typical setup, NFS exports directories from a Linux server. Windows clients then mount these exported directories to gain seamless access to the files within. This facilitates easy file transfers and collaboration across OS boundaries.

NFS offers notable advantages over other network file-sharing protocols due to its speed and stability. It works especially well in *nix environments given its origins in open standards. All this makes NFS an ideal choice for cross-platform file interactions.

Prerequisites for Mounting NFS Shares

Before mounting NFS shares, administrators must set up a few prerequisites:

• Install the Linux NFS server and export the relevant directories

• Install Services for NFS on the Windows machines

• Ensure network connectivity between the Linux server and Windows clients

• Grant permissions to the shares on the Linux side

These steps allow the two operating systems to communicate through the NFS protocol.

Configuring the Linux NFS Server

The first step is configuring NFS shares on the Linux server. This involves:

1. Installing the nfs-kernel-server package to set up the NFS server

2. Modifying /etc/exports to export specific directories to client nodes. These directories will be the mount points.

3. Running exportfs -a to apply the changes in /etc/exports

For example:

/mnt/public *(rw,sync,no_root_squash)

This exports the /mnt/public directory to all clients with read-write access.

Installing Services for NFS on Windows

The Windows client needs the Services for NFS Windows feature installed to mount the NFS shares.

To do this, run the following in PowerShell:

Install-WindowsFeature NFS-Client

Alternatively, use the Add Roles and Features Wizard via the Server Manager.

Now Windows has the components required to mount shares from Linux NFS servers.

Validating Connectivity

The next step is ensuring network connectivity between the two machines via ping tests.

If the Windows client can ping the Linux NFS server and vice versa, then basic connectivity is good.

Resolve any firewall or routing issues before proceeding.

Configuring Linux Share Permissions

The final prerequisite is setting share-level permissions on the exported NFS directories using Linux permissions.

For instance, grant rw permissions to a support group:

chown :support /mnt/public
chmod 770 /mnt/public

This allows the support group access to the share.

Now we can look at mounting the actual shares.

Mounting NFS Shares on Windows 2012

With those prerequisites handled, we can go about mounting the NFS exports on Windows 2012 clients. There are two approaches here:

Mapping Network Drives

The first method uses the traditional net use command to map network drives:

net use Z: \\LinuxServer\public

Where LinuxServer is the hostname or IP address of the server, public is the name of the export, and Z: is the desired local drive letter.

This mounts the share to what looks like a regular local volume. But under the hood, it is actually interfaced through NFS.

Mounting NFS as Local Volumes

A more modern approach is mounting NFS shares as local NTFS volumes instead of mapped drives. This leverages the Volume Manager for better stability and performance.

Here is the PowerShell command:

Mount-Nfs ???ComputerName LinuxServer ???Path /mnt/public ???LocalPath S:

This mounts the export directly as the S: drive without a mapped drive abstraction.

Now users can access the Linux-hosted files through Windows Explorer like any other folder. Meanwhile, reads and writes go over NFS.

Additionally, consider adding parameters like -Verbose, -PassThru or -Confirm to the Mount-Nfs cmdlet to debug the process. The -Persist flag can also automatically remount shares after reboots.

Key Benefits of Mounting NFS Shares

Setting up Windows clients to mount folders from Linux NFS servers offers notable benefits:

• Easier file transfers - Simply copy files between mounted shares and local folders instead of manual SCP commands.

• Access control - Leverage Linux permissions to control Windows access to sensitive data.

• Performance - NFS offers excellent throughput compared to other network protocols.

• Compatibility - NFS works seamlessly across every major platform.

In summary, mounting NFS shares makes light work of integrating Linux resources into Windows environments. Mastering the setup process enables simpler administration and adds flexibility.

Challenges to Consider

However, NFS sharing between platforms also comes with a few pitfalls to consider:

• Firewall configuration can cause connectivity issues blocking ports like 2049.

• Mismatched user IDs between operating systems can complicate permissions.

• Congestion and latency on busy networks degrade performance.

• Remote NFS servers represent a single point of failure.

Therefore, proper security controls, user management, and high-availability protections are necessary to mount shares responsibly.

Planning these factors from the start prevents headaches down the road.

The Future of Cross-Platform Data Sharing

As computing infrastructure continues trending towards hybrid models, sharing data seamlessly between Windows and Linux will only grow in importance. This will likely see increased adoption of versatile protocols like NFS and SMB powered by high-speed networks.

Additionally, containers and cloud drive adoption help abstract underlying operating systems. This focus on data accessibility anywhere will eventually dominate over cross-platform OS divides.

In essence, don't get distracted worrying whether storage is on Windows or Linux. With the right networking protocol, accessing resources securely will seem operationally homogeneous no matter the deployment OS. IT professionals would do well to stay on top of these trends as customer needs develop.

Also read - Converting JSON to CSV on Linux

Conclusion

Mounting remote NFS shares allows Windows 2012 administrators seamless access to Linux-hosted files. The process involves:

1. Configuring Linux NFS server exports and permissions

2. Installing Services For NFS on Windows

3. Mounting remote directories using net use or Mount-Nfs

The benefits include easier transfers, and better control and performance. However, plan for connectivity, users, congestion, and availability issues for production stability.

As technology evolves, data sharing across platforms will only increase in necessity. So mastering cross-OS protocols like NFS is a valuable skill set for any forward-looking administrator.