PowerScale: When an NFS alias is made for a parent directory, exported subdirectories show in showmount -e from the client side

Summary: When an NFS alias is made for a parent directory, exported subdirectories are shown in showmount -e from the client side.

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.

Symptoms

Have parent and subdirectory exported: 

# isi nfs exports list
ID   Zone   Paths         Description
--------------------------------------
1    System /ifs/nfs
2    System /ifs/nfs/test
--------------------------------------
Total: 2


Create an alias for the parent: 

# isi nfs aliases list
Zone   Name       Path
--------------------------
System /testAlias /ifs/nfs
--------------------------
Total: 1


Showmount -e from the client shows that unexpected paths returned:

[root@centos ~]# showmount -e x.x.x.x
Export list for x.x.x.x:
/testAlias/test x.x.x.x <<<<< subdirectory test is returned as part of the alias
/testAlias      x.x.x.x
/ifs/nfs/test   x.x.x.x
/ifs/nfs        x.x.x.x

 

Cause

This is expected behavior as clients can see or traverse valid export paths created on the PowerScale.

Resolution

To prevent aliases from appearing in showmount -e, disable the setting on the PowerScale so only full paths are returned. Clients would still be able to mount the alias, but it would prevent dual paths from being returned which may cause confusion in some environments. 

Please note this does require a restart of NFS across the cluster for this change to take effect. 

To disable the return of aliased paths in showmount:

# isi_gconfig registry.Services.lwio.Parameters.Drivers.nfs.MountdAliasesInShowmountE=0
 

Restart NFS across the cluster (can be ran node by node instead of running with isi_for_array if preferred:
 

# isi_for_array -s '/usr/likewise/bin/lwsm restart onefs_nfs' 

Now showmount -e from the client only shows the full paths and no longer the aliases:

[root@centos ~]# showmount -e x.x.x.x
Export list for x.x.x.x:
/ifs/nfs/test   x.x.x.x
/ifs/nfs        x.x.x.x

Affected Products

Isilon, PowerScale OneFS, Isilon Scale-out NAS
Article Properties
Article Number: 000205094
Article Type: Solution
Last Modified: 27 Nov 2025
Version:  3
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