linux autofs vs systemd automount

[YamiYukiSenpai]

I'm used to using automount, and it's reinforced by the fact that I use it in my job.

 

Just curious to know which one you prefer, and if there's performance benefit of one over the other?

[10leej]

I stated using systemd automount just because I don't particularly enjoy the autofs syntax and my needs be simple.

 

Autofs is still a great tool though.

[YamiYukiSenpai]

8 hours ago, 10leej said:

I stated using systemd automount just because I don't particularly enjoy the autofs syntax and my needs be simple.

I get the fact that its formatted just like any other systemd service, but 2 files to make automount work seems complicated?

[Arokan]

What's wrong with fstab?^^

[Nayr438]

On 4/15/2024 at 9:38 PM, YamiYukiSenpai said:

I'm used to using automount, and it's reinforced by the fact that I use it in my job.

 

Just curious to know which one you prefer, and if there's performance benefit of one over the other?

As far as I know there is no way to guarantee a mount with autofs, meanwhile systemd mount units can be used as a dependency for other systemd units / services.

Outside of that I don't think there are any other major differences apart from how they are configured.

 

2 hours ago, Arokan said:

What's wrong with fstab?^^

fstab on its own is nothing more than a common file to provide a quick way to manage mounts, in the case of systemd it's managed by systemd-fstab-generator which generates mount / automount units. So for systemd automount the additional fstab option would be x-systemd.automount.

using autofs does however remove the ability to manage automounts via fstab.

 

[YamiYukiSenpai]

On 4/17/2024 at 12:37 PM, Nayr438 said:

As far as I know there is no way to guarantee a mount with autofs, meanwhile systemd mount units can be used as a dependency for other systemd units / services.

huh. Never thought of that TBH.

 

I do have a service in my server that's using contents in an external drive.

[Alucard86ers]

Been using autofs for 5 or 6 months now, to mount the nfs shares for my Plex server.

It has been awesome. Set and forget essentially.

I choose it since there were some pretty good youtube vids on the subject that fit my needs. That and the ability to auto connect and disconnect helps.