Setup guide

Linux / Raspberry Pi NFS setup

Install nfs-kernel-server, write one /etc/exports line with insecure and all_squash, and apply with exportfs. The same line works on a Pi, a home server, or a VM.

1. Install and start

sudo apt install nfs-kernel-server
sudo systemctl enable --now nfs-server

(nfs-utils on Fedora/Arch; OpenMediaVault does all of this under Services → NFS instead.)

2. Write the export

One line in /etc/exports — folder, who may connect, and options:

/srv/nfs/media  192.168.1.0/24(rw,sync,insecure,no_subtree_check,all_squash,anonuid=1000,anongid=1000)

Part	Why
`192.168.1.0/24`	Only your subnet may mount. Wrong scope gives the server refused this device.
`insecure`	Required for iPhone/iPad/Mac apps — they can’t use privileged ports. The single most-missed option.
`all_squash,anonuid=1000,anongid=1000`	Every client acts as UID 1000 (usually the first user — check with `id`). Then the UID in the app is irrelevant and access denied goes away. Make sure that user owns the folder: `sudo chown -R 1000:1000 /srv/nfs/media`.
`no_subtree_check`	Avoids spurious refusals on subfolder mounts.
`sync`	Safer writes; the default on modern nfsd.

Apply it: sudo exportfs -ra. Verify: exportfs -v and rpcinfo -p (you should see nfs v3/v4 and mountd).

Full background on what each option means: exports, the insecure option, and ports.

3. Open the firewall (if one runs)

sudo ufw allow from 192.168.1.0/24 to any port nfs

That covers 111 and 2049 on UFW. NFSv3’s mountd uses a random port unless pinned — either pin it in /etc/nfs.conf ([mountd] port=20048, then open that too) or use NFSv4 in the app, which needs 2049 only.

4. What to type in NFS Files

Host: the Pi/server IP (DHCP-reserve it on the router).
Export path: exactly what’s in /etc/exports, e.g. /srv/nfs/media. Find Shared Folders lists it.
Advanced: defaults. With all_squash, UID/GID don’t matter.

NFSv4 note

If you export with fsid=0 (a pseudo-root), the v4 path differs from the v3 path — /srv/nfs/media on v3 may be /media on v4. If connecting on v4 gives that folder isn’t shared, try the shorter path or set NFS Version to v3.