Using Environment Variables as Shortcuts in AutoFS Maps

This section describes how to use environment variables as shortcuts in AutoFS maps using an example. You can create an environment variable by prefixing a dollar ($) to its name, or enclosing it in braces ({}). You can use an environment variable in a direct or an indirect AutoFS map anywhere except the first field, which specifies the local mount-point.




	IMPORTANT: You cannot use environment variables in the AutoFS master map.

In this example `the NFS serverbasil, contains subdirectories in its /export/private_files directory, which are named after the hosts in its network. Every host in the network can use the same AutoFS map and the same AUTOMOUNTD_OPTIONS definition to mount its private files from basil.

When AutoFS starts up on the host sage, it assigns the value sage to the HOST variable. When you request access to the local /private_files directory on sage, AutoFS mounts /export/private_files/sage from basil.

To use environment variables as shortcuts in direct and indirect maps, follow these steps:

To enable the automount command to expand the environment variable to its current value of the client's hostname, modify the direct map entry on the server, basil, as follows:
/private_files basil:/export/private_files/$HOST
In the direct map entry, HOST, is the environment variable.
Add the -D option to the AUTOMOUNTD_OPTIONS variable in the /etc/rc.config.d/nfsconf file to assign a value to the variable, as follows:
AUTOMOUNTD_OPTIONS=”-D HOST='hostname'”
NOTE: You can also use the /etc/default/autofs file to modify the value assigned to the variable.

You can use any environment variable that is set to a value in an AutoFS map. If you do not set the variable either with the -D option in /etc/rc.config.d/nfsconf file or by using the /etc/default/autofs file, AutoFS uses the current value of the environment variable on the local host.

For information on some of the pre-defined environment variables, see automount(1M).

Using Environment Variables as Shortcuts in AutoFS Maps

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