Skip to content

Lab 08: Configuring File-Based Storage with NFS and SMB (OPTIONAL)

Introduction

In this lab, you will configure file-based storage protocols using TrueNAS. Specifically, you will set up:

  • NFS (Network File System) for Linux clients (Lubuntu VM).
  • SMB (Server Message Block/CIFS) for Windows clients (your Host PC).

This demonstrates how SAN/NAS systems also provide file-level storage in addition to block-level (iSCSI) access.

By the end of this lab, you will:

  • Enable and configure NFS shares.
  • Enable and configure SMB shares.
  • Access NFS shares from your Lubuntu VM.
  • Access SMB shares from your Windows Host PC.

Step 1: Preparing the Environment

  1. Ensure your TrueNAS VM is running and TechOpsPool exists.
  2. Ensure your Lubuntu VM (Lab 03) is running.
  3. Ensure your Windows Host is connected to the same bridged network.

Step 2: Configuring an NFS Share in TrueNAS

  1. Log in to the TrueNAS Web Interface.
  2. Go to Sharing → Unix Shares (NFS).
  3. Click Add.
  4. Path: /mnt/TechOpsPool/DevTeam
  5. Allow network: 192.168.0.0/24 (adjust for your subnet).
  6. Save and start the NFS service.

✅ NFS share is now active.

Step 3: Accessing NFS Share from Lubuntu VM

  1. On Lubuntu, open the terminal.
  2. Install NFS client tools:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install nfs-common -y
3. Create a mount point:

sudo mkdir /mnt/devteam
4. Mount the NFS share:

sudo mount <truenas-ip>:/mnt/TechOpsPool/DevTeam /mnt/devteam
5. Verify:

ls /mnt/devteam
6. Test by creating a file:

echo "Hello from Lubuntu" | sudo tee /mnt/devteam/lubuntu_test.txt

✅ The file is now stored on TrueNAS and accessible from other clients.

Step 4: Configuring an SMB Share in TrueNAS

  1. In the TrueNAS web interface, go to Sharing → Windows Shares (SMB).
  2. Click Add.
  3. Path: /mnt/TechOpsPool/DevTeam
  4. Name: DevShare
  5. Save and enable the SMB service.

✅ SMB share is now active.

Step 5: Accessing SMB Share from Windows Host

  1. On your Windows 11 Host:

  2. Open File Explorer.

  3. In the address bar, type:

    \\<truenas-ip>\DevShare

    Example: \\192.168.1.120\DevShare 2. Enter credentials:

  4. Username: root

  5. Password: (set during TrueNAS installation)
  6. You should now see the share contents.
  7. Test by creating a text file (windows_test.txt) inside the share.

✅ Both Lubuntu and Windows can now access the same dataset over different protocols.

Step 6: Verifying Cross-Access

  1. On Lubuntu VM, check if the Windows file is visible:
ls /mnt/devteam

You should see windows_test.txt.

  1. On Windows Host, refresh the SMB share — you should see lubuntu_test.txt created earlier.

✅ This confirms that multiple clients can access the same dataset using different file-sharing protocols.

Troubleshooting Tips

  • NFS mount fails: Ensure NFS service is running and subnet is correctly set in TrueNAS.
  • Windows cannot access share: Enable SMB1/SMB2 in Windows features if needed.
  • Authentication issues: Use the root account or create a dedicated SMB user in TrueNAS.
  • Firewall issues: Allow SMB/NFS ports (111, 2049, 445) on your network.

✅ Congratulations! You have successfully configured NFS and SMB shares on TrueNAS, and accessed them from both Lubuntu and Windows Host. This simulates real-world file sharing in mixed environments.