Mounting Linux File Storage on Windows and MacOS Systems

Attention: If you experience permission issues when writing files to your Linux directory, change the server from one of the fs(0-2).eecs.utk.edu systems to samba.eecs.utk.edu. This will decrease speed but increase compatibility. eecs-ithelp@utk.edu

Many EECS users wish to be able to access the Linux file storage (Linux home directory) and Linux research directories as shared drives from Windows and MacOS systems. On all EECS Windows desktops located in Min Kao, users' Linux home directories are automatically mounted as the L: shared drive by a log-in script:

If your L: drive is not automatically connected, e.g. when using a Mac computer, a laptop, or a system outside of Min Kao, you can manually add your EECS Linux home directory to your computer.

1. If you are currently off-campus (outside the UT network), you will first have to connect to the UT Virtual Private Network (VPN). This is only required from off-campus connections. Skip this step if you are on campus. Please visit Virtual Private Network (VPN) User Guide for information on how to set up the UT VPN.
2. Determine which EECS server stores your Linux home area and figure out the proper folder name. You can use either of the methods below:
   • Log into any EECS Linux system and run the command mount | grep $USERNAME | cut -d “:” -f1 . You will receive a result similar to this:

     jruser:hydra9 ~> mount | grep $USERNAME | cut -d ":" -f 1
     fs1.eecs.utk.edu

     Windows: The proper folder name is: \\server\netid where server is the server that houses your Linux home directory and netid is your UTK NetID. For example: \\fs1.eecs.utk.edu\jruser.
     MacOS: The server string is smb://servername/netid. For example: smb://fs1.eecs.utk.edu/jruser.

   • You can also use the form below to determine the proper network drive server and connection strings. Please note that this will only work if you are viewing this page from within the EECS network.
     
3. Windows: Map a network drive to the folder determined above, i.e. \\server\netid. In Explorer, select “This PC” then from the “Computer” menu pick Map network drive.
   
   You will likely have to select “Connect using different credentials”. Use UTK\netid as your user name, e.g. UTK\jruser.
4. MacOS: Use “Connect to Server” from the Finder's Go menu (or press Command+K).
   
   Connect using the smb string, i.e. smb://servername/netid.

EECS file servers also provide a special “webhome” network share that automatically connects to the webhome directory in your Linux home area. By connecting to this share, you can upload files for distribution on the WWW. Permissions should automatically be set to allow the web server to access those files. Please see above for the appropriate server. The connection procedure is the same as for home directories except the connection string will use “webhome” instead of your NetID, e.g. \\server\webhome.

If you currently have access to a Linux research or storage area (i.e. a directory beginning with /research or /storage, you can also connect those to a network drive in either Windows or MacOS. The process is the same as above with only the folder string being different.

1. Determine the server of the directory to which you wish to connect. Log into an EECS Linux system and type: cd /research/directory ; mount | grep directory. Substitute the proper directory name and use /storage for storage areas. You will receive a result similar to this:

   jruser:hydra4 ~> cd /research/xlab ; mount | grep xlab
   fs0.eecs.utk.edu:/export/research/xlab on /research/xlab type nfs4 (rw,nosuid,nodev,relatime,vers=4.1,rsize=1048576,wsize=1048576,namlen=255,soft,proto=tcp,timeo=600,retrans=2,sec=sys,clientaddr=160.36.56.12,local_lock=none,addr=160.36.127.183)

   The server name is the part before the colon, e.g. fs0.eecs.utk.edu.

2. Construct the proper folder string:
   1. Windows: Either //server/research/directory (e.g. //fs0.eecs.utk.edu/research/xlab) or //server/storage/directory (e.g. //fs0.eecs.utk.edu/storage/xlab).
   2. MacOS: Either smb://server/research/directory (e.g. smb://fs0.eecs.utk.edu/research/xlab) or smb://server/storage/directory (e.g. smb://fs0.eecs.utk.edu/storage/xlab).

As an alternative to SMB networking, you can also mount a network drive using the SSHFS subsystem. This works on both Windows and MacOS, but requires additional software.

1. Download and install the latest version of WinFSP. All installer defaults will be fine.
   
2. Download and install the latest version of SSHFS-win. All installer defaults will be fine.
   
3. Be sure to you are connected to the UTK VPN.
4. You should now be able to mount a network drive using the following URL construction:
   \\sshfs\netid@host\
   Where netid is your UTK Netid and host is the full domain name of one of the departmental Linux lab systems (e.g. one of the Tesla or Hydra lab computers):
   
5. Enter your normal UTK password:
   

1. Download and install both MacFuse and SSHFS (in that order) from: https://osxfuse.github.io/
2. After installation you will need to authorize the system extension and then reboot your computer. Open your System Preferences and go to Security and Privacy.
   1. Click the Lock to make changes
   2. Allow the extension
   3. Reboot your system
      
      If you fail to do this step, you will receive the following error message the first time you try to connect to an SSHFS file system:
      
3. Make a folder where you'd like to mount your EECS files. In our example we will use a directory called EECS on the Desktop.
4. Open the Terminal application and enter a command of the following format:
   sshfs netid@host:/home/netid directory
   Where netid is your UTK NetID, host is the full domain name of one of the departmental Linux lab systems (e.g. one of the Tesla or Hydra lab computers), and directory is the path to the folder you created in step 3. For example:
   sshfs miturria@tesla6.eecs.utk.edu/home/miturria ~/Desktop/EECS
   
5. You will now see that the directory has changed its name to macFUSE Volume 0 (sshfs). To disconnect, select the eject logo next to the directory name:
   

For general information on how to connect to a network drive, please see:

• Windows:
  • https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/4026635/windows-map-a-network-drive
  • https://www.howtogeek.com/school/windows-network-sharing/lesson8/
• MacOS:
  • https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204445