How to Mount NFS Storage for Docker Containers

Purpose
Mount a remote NFS share on a Linux server for use by Docker containers, ensuring stable operation, correct permissions, and automatic remounting.
1. Install NFS Client on the Server
sudo apt update
sudo apt install nfs-common -y
2. Create a Local Mount Directory
Create a local directory where the NFS share will be mounted:
sudo mkdir -p /srv/nfs-mount
sudo chown $(whoami):$(whoami) /srv/nfs-mount
(You can replace 
/srv/nfs-mount with your preferred path.)
3. Mount the NFS Share (Manual Test)
Example:
sudo mount -t nfs4 192.168.100.11:/mnt/hdd-storage/my-nfs-share /srv/nfs-mount
nfs4: Use NFS version 4 for better performance and locking.
proto=tcp: Reliable transport.
hard: Wait for server recovery instead of failing immediately.
timeo=600: Timeout setting for NFS.
retrans=2: Retry failed operations twice.
sec=sys: Default authentication security.
_netdev: Only mount after network is ready.
4. Verify That the Mount Worked
mount | grep nfs
You should see:
192.168.100.11:/mnt/hdd-storage/my-nfs-share on /srv/nfs-mount type nfs4 (...)
5. Make the Mount Persistent (Auto-Mount on Boot)
Edit your 
/etc/fstab file:
sudo nano /etc/fstab
Add the following line:
192.168.100.11:/mnt/hdd-storage/my-nfs-share /srv/nfs-mount nfs4 rw,relatime,hard,proto=tcp,timeo=600,retrans=2,sec=sys,_netdev 0 0
Save and exit (
Ctrl+O, 
Enter, 
Ctrl+X).
6. Test the fstab Entry Without Rebooting
sudo mount -a
No errors = success ✅
7. Using the NFS Mount with Docker
When running your containers, bind-mount your NFS storage into the container:
docker run -d \
  --name my-container \
  -v /srv/nfs-mount:/app/data \
  my-docker-image
This will allow your Docker containers to directly access the NFS storage.
✅ Summary
Use NFSv4 (
nfs4) whenever possible.
Always include 
_netdev in 
/etc/fstab.
Use 
hard mounts to protect container file operations during NFS server issues.
Bind-mount the NFS path inside containers carefully.
Avoid using NFS for databases unless network latency is very low.
🛠️ Useful Commands
Mount NFS manually: 
sudo mount -t nfs4 server:/path /mountpoint
Check current NFS mounts: 
mount | grep nfs
Reload fstab: 
sudo mount -a
🧠 Additional Notes
If the NFS server reboots, containers may pause if heavily dependent on storage.
When using Compose (
docker-compose.yml), define volumes mapped to NFS mount points.
For production, consider using systemd mount units for even better recovery handling.