Mount an NFS Azure file share on Linux

Brief overview

• Azure file shares on Linux can be mounted using SMB or NFS. This article focuses on mounting with NFS (NFSv4.1).

• NFSv4.1 shares require access from trusted networks (virtual network recommended). Account keys, Microsoft Entra, and ACLs cannot be used to authorize NFSv4.1 requests.

• You can mount using the AZNFS mount helper, native NFS client commands, or configure /etc/fstab for automatic mounts.

• Use the nconnect mount option (recommended nconnect=4) to improve performance at scale.

• NFS file shares support snapshots for rollbacks and recovery.

Applies to

• Only certain combinations of storage type and redundancy support NFS (see original table for details and exact support rows).

Prerequisite — network security

• NFSv4.1 file shares must be accessed from trusted networks. For setup guidance, see: https://docs.azure.cn/en-us/storage/files/create-classic-file-share

Mounting — quick steps

• Options:

  • Use AZNFS mount helper (portal provides a tailored install+mount script).

  • Use native NFS mount command.

  • Add an /etc/fstab entry for automatic mounting.

Mount helper (portal)

1

Use portal "Connect from Linux"

• In the Azure portal, after creating the file share, choose the share → "Connect from Linux".

• Enter the desired mount path and copy the provided script. Run the script on the client to install the AZNFS mount helper and mount the share.

• Portal script includes required mount options; you can add other recommended options (see Mount options).

2

Manual mount with NFS client

• Create the mount directory and run a mount command (example placeholders below). Replace and with your values.

Mount commands (by distribution)

Ubuntu / Debian

sudo apt-get -y update
sudo apt-get install nfs-common

sudo mkdir -p /mount/<YourStorageAccountName>/<FileShareName>
sudo mount -t nfs <YourStorageAccountName>.file.core.chinacloudapi.cn:/<YourStorageAccountName>/<FileShareName> /mount/<YourStorageAccountName>/<FileShareName> -o vers=4,minorversion=1,sec=sys,nconnect=4

RHEL / CentOS

SUSE

/etc/fstab configuration

• To auto-mount at boot, add an fstab entry. Check if AZNFS Mount Helper is installed:

systemctl is-active --quiet aznfswatchdog && echo -e "\nAZNFS Mount Helper is installed! \n"

• Example fstab entries (replace placeholders):

  • Using AZNFS mount helper: .file.core.chinacloudapi.cn:// /media// aznfs defaults,sec=sys,vers=4.1,nolock,proto=tcp,nofail,_netdev,notls 0 2

  • Using native NFS mount: .file.core.chinacloudapi.cn:// /media// nfs vers=4,minorversion=1,_netdev,nofail,sec=sys 0 0

Recommended mount options (high level)

• Required: vers=4 and minorversion=1 (use vers=4,minorversion=1), sec=sys.

• Recommended for performance: rsize=1048576, wsize=1048576, nconnect=4, actimeo=30-60.

• For kernels < 5.18: consider noresvport.

• AZNFS-specific: clean option can clear stale entries from prior TLS mounts.

Troubleshooting and next steps

• If mount fails, verify private endpoint and networking: https://docs.azure.cn/en-us/storage/files/storage-files-networking-endpoints#verify-connectivity

• Troubleshoot: https://learn.microsoft.com/troubleshoot/azure/azure-storage/files-troubleshoot-linux-nfs?toc=/storage/files/toc.json

• Snapshots: Azure Files supports snapshots for NFS shares — see: https://docs.azure.cn/en-us/storage/files/storage-snapshots-files#nfs-file-share-snapshots

Last update (per original): 09/19/2025

If you want, I can produce a one-line quick checklist, convert the full mount options table into a copyable fstab example, or extract only portal vs CLI steps. Which would you prefer?