Hello, everyone,
why can't I find a guide on how to mount my Linux server's NFS hard
disks on my Android tablet?

Grazie. Ciao
Massimo

Massimo Peca wrote on Fri, 25 Oct 2024 22:42:11 +0200 :

> Hello, everyone,
> why can't I find a guide on how to mount my Linux server's NFS hard
> disks on my Android tablet?

I do not know why nor even how, but one possible suggestion is that all
Android phones (even those which are not rooted) can concurrently run any
desired Linux distro - for free - using the Andronix open source tools.

*Andronix* - Linux on Android, by Devriz Technologies
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=studio.com.techriz.andronix>
<https://github.com/AndronixApp>
<https://andronix.app/>

If you know how to mount the disks on your chosen Linux distro, that might
solve your problem. If it does solve the problem, please let us know.

Good luck.

On 2024-10-25 22:42, Massimo Peca wrote:
> Hello, everyone,
> why can't I find a guide on how to mount my Linux server's NFS hard
> disks on my Android tablet?

https://www.hallergard.com/Blog/NFS_Android.html

?

--
Cheers, Carlos.

"Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> Wrote in message:

> On 2024-10-25 22:42, Massimo Peca wrote:
>> Hello, everyone,
>> why can't I find a guide on how to mount my Linux server's NFS hard
>> disks on my Android tablet?
>
> https://www.hallergard.com/Blog/NFS_Android.html
>
> ?

Yes, I have VLC and that has NFS as a network connection method.
There may be file managers that will do it. Or maybe not - most
folk probably want to connect to a Win machine and are happy with
SMB. Look on RPi forums.

Googling, I found a few sketchy blogs, mainly old, about
connecting a drive _outside_ an app, using busybox for example.
But as you expect you need root access. And connecting it
automatically requires some cunning scripting. So - not easy -
and probably doesn't work any more.
--
Remove numerics from my email address.

Massimo Peca, 2024-10-25 22:42:

> Hello, everyone,
> why can't I find a guide on how to mount my Linux server's NFS hard
> disks on my Android tablet?

Because there are not many people trying this. NFS is not the first
choice when it comes to sharing folders for other devices which are not
the typical Linux boxes. Yes, Android uses a Linux kernel - but it
should not be mistaken as "Linux system".

--
Arno Welzel
https://arnowelzel.de

Carlos E.R., 2024-10-26 03:08:

> On 2024-10-25 22:42, Massimo Peca wrote:
>> Hello, everyone,
>> why can't I find a guide on how to mount my Linux server's NFS hard
>> disks on my Android tablet?
>
> https://www.hallergard.com/Blog/NFS_Android.html

This is *not* about "mount NFS on Android" but only about these specific
apps. In this case VLC and KODI also support using NFS to access files.
But that's it - there is Document Storage Framework provider for NFS
this way, only within these two apps you can use a NFS share as source too.

And also keep in mind, that you can *not* mount anything in Android like
in Linux. There is no fstab to be editable by the user and apps also
don't have access to the filesystem but only to the Document Storage
Framework or to very limited folders on SD cards or the respective
internal storage in devices which don't support SD cards at all.

--
Arno Welzel
https://arnowelzel.de

Arno Welzel, 2024-10-26 13:34:

> Massimo Peca, 2024-10-25 22:42:
>
>> Hello, everyone,
>> why can't I find a guide on how to mount my Linux server's NFS hard
>> disks on my Android tablet?
>
> Because there are not many people trying this. NFS is not the first
> choice when it comes to sharing folders for other devices which are not
> the typical Linux boxes. Yes, Android uses a Linux kernel - but it
> should not be mistaken as "Linux system".

P.S.: also keep in mind, that Android can *not* mount things like Linux
does.

An app can not create new mountpoints and there is no fstab you can
easily edit. First of all, there is no root access, which would be
required to run "mount" or edit /etc/fstab.

Furthermore apps can only use a very limited number of folders for
direct file access - and only, if allowed to do so. The preferred way
for apps is using the Storage Access Framework. This framework allows
additional providers to store file also on external servers like Google
Drive, Dropbox etc. - but for this to work, there must be a storage
provider installed which adds additional storage locations for apps. For
example when you set up Google Drive or Nextcloud, you will see your
Google Drive account or the configured Nextcloud account as a possible
storage location to load and save files. In the same way an app *could*
also provide access to NFS - however I am not aware of any NFS storage
provider for Android and I doubt that there will ever be one, since NFS
is mostly unknown outside the world of Linux servers.

--
Arno Welzel
https://arnowelzel.de

On 2024-10-26 09:23, Dave Royal wrote:
> "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> Wrote in message:
>
>> On 2024-10-25 22:42, Massimo Peca wrote:
>>> Hello, everyone,
>>> why can't I find a guide on how to mount my Linux server's NFS hard
>>> disks on my Android tablet?
>>
>> https://www.hallergard.com/Blog/NFS_Android.html
>>
>> ?
>
> Yes, I have VLC and that has NFS as a network connection method.
> There may be file managers that will do it. Or maybe not - most
> folk probably want to connect to a Win machine and are happy with
> SMB. Look on RPi forums.

Some file browsers have an FTP client. Or SFTP. I just looked at Ghost
Commander, no NFS.

>
> Googling, I found a few sketchy blogs, mainly old, about
> connecting a drive _outside_ an app, using busybox for example.
> But as you expect you need root access. And connecting it
> automatically requires some cunning scripting. So - not easy -
> and probably doesn't work any more.

--
Cheers, Carlos.

Massimo Peca <massimo@esatto.com> ha scritto o citato:
>why can't I find a guide on how to mount my Linux server's NFS hard
>disks on my Android tablet?

*** Non ho testato la guida che segue, è solo una bozza veloce ***
*** e potrebbe contenere errori! ***

GUIDA SU COME MONTARE IL DISCO RIGIDO NFS DI UN SERVER LINUX SU
UN TABLET ANDROID.

Ehi ragazzi! Oggi vi spiego come montare un disco NFS di un server
Linux sul vostro tablet Android. È una figata pazzesca, fidatevi!

## Preparazione

Prima di tutto, assicuratevi di avere:

- Un server Linux con NFS configurato correttamente

- Un tablet Android (ovviamente!)

- Un'app per gestire NFS su Android (ve ne consiglio un paio dopo)

## Configurazione del server

Se non avete già configurato NFS sul vostro server Linux, dovete
farlo. Ecco i passaggi base:

1. Installate il pacchetto NFS:

bash

sudo apt install nfs-kernel-server

2. Create una cartella da condividere:

bash

sudo mkdir /mnt/nfs_share

3. Configurate il file /etc/exports:

bash

sudo nano /etc/exports

Aggiungete questa riga:

/mnt/nfs_share *(rw,sync,no_subtree_check)

4. Riavviate il servizio NFS:

bash

sudo systemctl restart nfs-kernel-server

## Configurazione del tablet Android

Ora passiamo alla parte divertente!

1. Scaricate un'app per gestire NFS. Io uso "ES File Explorer"
o "AndSMB", ma ce ne sono tante altre.

2. Aprite l'app e cercate l'opzione per aggiungere un server NFS.

3. Inserite l'indirizzo IP del vostro server Linux e il percorso
della cartella condivisa (tipo "/mnt/nfs_share").

4. Se tutto va bene, dovreste vedere i file del server sul vostro
tablet!

## Trucchetti e consigli

- Assicuratevi che il tablet e il server siano sulla stessa rete
Wi-Fi.

- Se non funziona, controllate il firewall del server. Potrebbe
bloccare le connessioni NFS.

- Per una connessione più veloce, usate il 5GHz invece del 2.4GHz sul
Wi-Fi.

Ecco fatto! Ora potete accedere ai file del vostro server
Linux direttamente dal tablet Android. È una bomba per
guardare film, ascoltare musica o lavorare sui documenti
ovunque siate in casa.

Se avete problemi, fatemi sapere nei commenti. Buon divertimento
con il vostro nuovo setup NFS!

Il 26/10/24 03:08, Carlos E.R. ha scritto:
....
> https://www.hallergard.com/Blog/NFS_Android.html

Thanks
Massimo

Il 26/10/24 09:23, Dave Royal ha scritto:
....
> Yes, I have VLC and that has NFS as a network connection method.
> There may be file managers that will do it. Or maybe not - most
> folk probably want to connect to a Win machine and are happy with
> SMB. Look on RPi forums.
Thank you,
my main purpose is to view and edit, remotely, the photo files (RAW) I
have on my Linux computer (Debian), so VLC is not needed.
I also looked for file managers that read NFS disks or partitions, but
couldn't find any. The one ste I like best is x-plore. I wrote to the
author, but he says it doesn't do that.
At most they use Samba (SMB), precisely because Windows is more popular
than Linux.

Massimo

Il 26/10/24 15:50, Carlos E.R. ha scritto:
....
> Some file browsers have an FTP client. Or SFTP. I just looked at Ghost
> Commander, no NFS.
Thank you,
I would not want to install FTP/SFTP on the Linux server as well.

Il 26/10/24 13:38, Arno Welzel ha scritto:

>
> This is *not* about "mount NFS on Android" but only about these specific
> apps. In this case VLC and KODI also support using NFS to access files.
> But that's it - there is Document Storage Framework provider for NFS
> this way, only within these two apps you can use a NFS share as source too.
>
> And also keep in mind, that you can *not* mount anything in Android like
> in Linux. There is no fstab to be editable by the user and apps also
> don't have access to the filesystem but only to the Document Storage
> Framework or to very limited folders on SD cards or the respective
> internal storage in devices which don't support SD cards at all.
>
>

I got it, thank you.
So, would it be enough to have a file manager that reads an NFS
partition, and then open the files that I'm interested in?
I haven't found any, though.

Arno Welzel <usenet@arnowelzel.de> ha scritto:
> .... In the same way an app *could*
> also provide access to NFS - however I am not aware of any NFS storage
> provider for Android and I doubt that there will ever be one, since NFS
> is mostly unknown outside the world of Linux servers.
>
I guess the OP was going to set up his own NFS local network...
Not looking for a provider. IMHO
Anyway, Amaze (file manager) comes with a couple of interesting
options, ftp server and wifi p2p, but no NFS.
Material Files (another well reputated file manager) can manage
ftp servers but again no NFS.
VLC seems to be the only NFS client available but it's not a file
manager.
Maybe he could use VLC for multimedia via NFS and Amaze for other
files via ftp.

--
Qihe

Il 26/10/24 13:34, Arno Welzel ha scritto:

>
> Because there are not many people trying this. NFS is not the first
> choice when it comes to sharing folders for other devices which are not
> the typical Linux boxes. Yes, Android uses a Linux kernel - but it
> should not be mistaken as "Linux system".
>
>

Thank you for your contribution.
Still, I don't think I am the only one in the world who uses an Android
tablet/smartphone and a Linux local area network at home.
NFS is the most popular sharing protocol in the Linux environment, so I
would find it normal if it were accessible from other operating systems
as well, as you can do with Microsoft Windows.
I don't see Android being any less widespread than Windows.
It seems to me to be an unwise business and technical choice.

Massimo

Il 26/10/24 16:25, Qihe ha scritto:
....
> I guess the OP was going to set up his own NFS local network...
> Not looking for a provider. IMHO
correct

> Anyway, Amaze (file manager) comes with a couple of interesting
> options, ftp server and wifi p2p, but no NFS.
> Material Files (another well reputated file manager) can manage
> ftp servers but again no NFS.
Confirmation. I cannot find any file manager that can read NFS. Is this
just a business or technical choice? If they access FTP, SMB, why not
NFS as well?

> VLC seems to be the only NFS client available but it's not a file
> manager.
> Maybe he could use VLC for multimedia via NFS and Amaze for other
> files via ftp.
>
VLC not good for me. I need to edit RAW, PNG, JPEG files etc... remotely
and for Android there are many tools.
And don't tell me to use a laptop........ I did.

Massimo

Il 26/10/24 15:54, Stefan Ram ha scritto:
> Massimo Peca <massimo@esatto.com> ha scritto o citato:
>> why can't I find a guide on how to mount my Linux server's NFS hard
>> disks on my Android tablet?
>
> *** Non ho testato la guida che segue, è solo una bozza veloce ***
> *** e potrebbe contenere errori! ***

Wow!
Leggerò con calma, grazie.!

Ciao.
Massimo

Massimo Peca <massimo@esatto.com> wrote or quoted:
>Il 26/10/24 15:54, Stefan Ram ha scritto:
>>*** Non ho testato la guida che segue, è solo una bozza veloce ***
>> *** e potrebbe contenere errori! ***
>Wow!
>Leggerò con calma, grazie.!

BTW: I found this in the Web (a search engine snippet):

|NFS share from an android Tablet device - Experts Exchange
|Jun 27, 2016 · You can run ES File Explorer -> Network _> My
|Network and Click the Search button to locate the NFS host.
|Click the result of finding and you will be prompted ...
..

But, unfortunately, these apps (like ES File Explorer and AndSMB)
will just allow to access the shares, not to actually /mount/ them.

Massimo Peca wrote on Sat, 26 Oct 2024 16:21:30 +0200 :

> So, would it be enough to have a file manager that reads an NFS
> partition, and then open the files that I'm interested in?
> I haven't found any, though.

I ran a search in Skyica App Finder for free & ad free apps which support
"NFS" and it found a few - but I have no idea if they will work for you.

<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.skyjos.apps.fileexplorerfree>
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fregie.pho>
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.icecoldapps.serversultimate.packb>

The caveat is I know nothing about these apps other than they mention that
they support NFS and that they're free and ad free (which is all I use).

ram@zedat.fu-berlin.de (Stefan Ram) ha scritto:
> ...
> ## Configurazione del tablet Android
>
> Ora passiamo alla parte divertente!
>
> 1. Scaricate un'app per gestire NFS. Io uso "ES File Explorer"
> o "AndSMB", ma ce ne sono tante altre.
>
Bravo! Grazie!

--
Qihe

Il 26/10/24 15:54, Stefan Ram ha scritto:

>
> 1. Scaricate un'app per gestire NFS. Io uso "ES File Explorer"
> o "AndSMB", ma ce ne sono tante altre.

As I wrote, I would like to use NFS and not SMB.

Massimo

Qihe <Q@invalid.invalid> wrote or quoted:
>ram@zedat.fu-berlin.de (Stefan Ram) ha scritto:
>>## Configurazione del tablet Android
>>Ora passiamo alla parte divertente!
>>1. Scaricate un'app per gestire NFS. Io uso "ES File Explorer"
>> o "AndSMB", ma ce ne sono tante altre.
>Bravo! Grazie!

I'm stoked you dig my message, but these apps are probably just
going to let you access files within the same app ("ES File Explorer"
or "AndSMB"), not serve them up on a silver platter for other apps
like a system-wide mount would do. You're probably looking at a
situation where you'll have to schlep files back and forth between
Android and the SMB share using such an app ("ES File Explorer" or
"AndSMB") to make the files accessible (indirectly) for other apps.

Il 26/10/24 17:34, Stefan Ram ha scritto:

> I'm stoked you dig my message, but these apps are probably just...

I realized that the solution I am looking for is hard to find, if not,
currently, impossible: NFS directly from Android.
I'm going to try Andronix...

Il 26/10/24 17:04, Andrews ha scritto:
> Massimo Peca wrote on Sat, 26 Oct 2024 16:21:30 +0200 :
>
>> So, would it be enough to have a file manager that reads an NFS ...).

Thank you!!!
I will do some testing.

PS: as I expected, newsgroups are far from an outdated method of
collaborating and exchanging opinions on the Internet.
He's over 60 years old, but he doesn't look it.

Massimo Peca <massimo@esatto.com> wrote or quoted:
>Il 26/10/24 15:54, Stefan Ram ha scritto:
>>1. Scaricate un'app per gestire NFS. Io uso "ES File Explorer"
>> o "AndSMB", ma ce ne sono tante altre.
>As I wrote, I would like to use NFS and not SMB.

I see. The Experts Exchange page doesn't seem to mention SMB,
but it does say you can access an NFS host through ES File
Explorer. (Just a heads-up though, that page is from 2016,
so things could have shifted since then.)