Quickly query a server to see what NFS shares it exports and which clients mounted them. 03.05.2026 | reading time: 2 min On any Linux system you can ask a server what it exports with a single command and get an immediate picture of NFS availability and client mounts. Quick example Run this to list exports on a server and inspect sample output: ``` showmount -e nfs-server.example.local ``` Sample output looks like this: ``` Export list for nfs-server.example.local: /srv/nfs 192.168.1.0/24 /var/shared 192.168.1.15 ``` Explore mounted clients To see which clients have actually mounted exports use the all option; it returns client:directory lines that help locate active mounts: ``` showmount -a nfs-server.example.local ``` Typical output: ``` All mount points on nfs-server.example.local: client1:/export/project 192.168.1.42:/export/home ``` What to watch for showmount queries the RPC mount daemon so it requires rpcbind and mountd to respond and may not reflect some NFSv4 configurations; a firewall blocking portmapper (111) will cause failures, and modern servers configured strictly may hide client lists for privacy. Practical troubleshooting tips When exports look wrong, compare `showmount -e` with the server's `exportfs -v` output, check `rpcinfo -p` to verify portmapper services, and look at client-side `mount` to confirm actual mounts; small checks often reveal export restrictions or firewall rules. Complementary tools Use `exportfs` on the NFS server to view configured exports, `rpcinfo` to list RPC services and ports, and `mount` or `/proc/mounts` on clients to see real mount points; together these commands complete the picture of NFS health. Next steps Practice on a lab server: create an export, query it with showmount, then mount it from a client and observe the change; mastering these steps builds solid troubleshooting instincts and prepares one for certification study. Join Bits & Bytes Academy First class LINUX exam preparation. network utilities troubleshooting storage infrastructure
