Accessing remote network shares on Linux, such as \\REMOTE_HOSTNAME\SomeFolder, can be accomplished using the SMB/CIFS protocol. This guide explains how to mount, check, and interact with such shares efficiently.

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Installing Necessary Tools

Before accessing a remote share, ensure that the required tools are installed:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install cifs-utils smbclient -y


						

• cifs-utils: Required for mounting SMB/CIFS shares.
• smbclient: Useful for testing connectivity and browsing shares.

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Step 1: Verify the Remote Share Exists

Using smbclient

The smbclient tool can list available shares on the remote server:

smbclient -L //REMOTE_HOSTNAME -U 


						

• Replace <username> with your username. You’ll be prompted for a password.
• The command lists all available shares on REMOTE_HOSTNAME. If SomeFolder appears, the share exists and is accessible.

Checking Connectivity with ping

To ensure the server is reachable:

ping -c 4 REMOTE_HOSTNAME


						

• Successful replies indicate that the server is online.

Test Direct Access to the Share

To verify access directly:

smbclient //REMOTE_HOSTNAME/SomeFolder -U 


						

If this connects successfully, the share is accessible, and you can proceed to mount it.

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Step 2: Create a Mount Point

Mount points are directories where the remote share will be accessed. Create one for the remote share:

sudo mkdir -p /mnt/homestorage


						

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Step 3: Mount the Remote Share

Mount the share using the mount command:

sudo mount -t cifs //REMOTE_HOSTNAME/SomeFolder /mnt/homestorage -o username=,password=


						

• Replace <username> and <password> with valid credentials for the share.
• If no credentials are required, omit the o options.

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Step 4: Make Mount Persistent (Optional)

To ensure the share mounts automatically at boot, add it to /etc/fstab:

sudo nano /etc/fstab


						

Add a line like this:

//REMOTE_HOSTNAME/SomeFolder /mnt/homestorage cifs username=,password=,iocharset=utf8,vers=3.0 0 0


						

Reload the updated /etc/fstab:

sudo mount -a


						

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Step 5: Automate Check and Mount Process

To automate checking and mounting, you can create a script:

#!/bin/bash

if smbclient -L //REMOTE_HOSTNAME -U  -g | grep -q SomeFolder; then
    sudo mount -t cifs //REMOTE_HOSTNAME/SomeFolder /mnt/homestorage -o username=,password=
    echo "Mounted successfully!"
else
    echo "Share does not exist or is inaccessible."
fi


						

• Replace <username> and <password> with the appropriate values.
• Save the script (e.g., mount_share.sh), make it executable, and run it:

chmod +x mount_share.sh
./mount_share.sh


						

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Step 6: Unmount the Share

When you are done accessing the share, unmount it:

sudo umount /mnt/homestorage


						

If the share is busy, use:

sudo umount -l /mnt/homestorage


						

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Step 7: View Mounted Shares

To see all currently mounted shares:

mount


						

For a more detailed view:

findmnt


						

If you want to check a specific device or mount point:

findmnt /mnt/homestorage


						

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Troubleshooting Tips

• Validate /etc/fstab : Ensure no errors exist in the file. Use:

  
  sudo mount --verify
  
  
  									

• Error with Credentials: Ensure the username and password are correct.
• Server Unreachable: Check network connectivity with ping or verify the hostname/IP address.
• Debug Mount Issues: Use verbose mode:

  
  sudo mount -av
  
  
  									

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By following these steps, you can effectively navigate, verify, and mount remote shares on Linux while ensuring persistence and ease of use.