autofs unable to fetch NFS exports from NetApp filer

This document (7016343) is provided subject to the disclaimer at the end of this document.

Environment

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP3

Situation

When using autofs with the following entries in /etc/auto.master

/net -hosts

to get NFS shares from a NetApp filer, the exports cannot be fetched and need to get mounted manually. The following errors are observed when activating autofs debug output (/usr/sbin/automount -l debug /net):

Mar 23 08:10:18 server automount[3604]: Debug logging set for /net

Mar 23 08:10:28 server automount[3604]: handle_packet: type = 3

Mar 23 08:10:28 server automount[3604]: handle_packet_missing_indirect: token 86, name NETAPP, request pid 1790

Mar 23 08:10:28 server automount[3604]: attempting to mount entry /net/NETAPP

Mar 23 08:10:28 server automount[3604]: lookup(hosts): can't find path in hosts map /net/NETAPP

Mar 23 08:10:28 server automount[3604]: lookup_mount: lookup(hosts): lookup failed - update exports list

Mar 23 08:10:28 server automount[3604]: lookup_mount: lookup(hosts): fetchng export list for NETAPP

Mar 23 08:10:28 server automount[3604]: lookup_mount: exports lookup failed for NETAPP

Mar 23 08:10:28 server automount[3604]: key "NETAPP" not found in map source(s).

Mar 23 08:10:28 server automount[3604]: dev_ioctl_send_fail: token = 86

Mar 23 08:10:28 server automount[3604]: failed to mount /net/NETAPP

Mar 23 08:10:28 server automount[3604]: handle_packet: type = 3

Mar 23 08:10:28 server automount[3604]: handle_packet_missing_indirect: token 87, name NETAPP, request pid 1790

Mar 23 08:10:28 server automount[3604]: attempting to mount entry /net/NETAPP

Mar 23 08:10:28 server automount[3604]: dev_ioctl_send_fail: token = 87

Mar 23 08:10:28 server automount[3604]: failed to mount /net/NETAPP

Mar 23 08:10:29 server automount[3604]: handle_packet: type = 3

Mar 23 08:10:29 server automount[3604]: handle_packet_missing_indirect: token 88, name NETAPP, request pid 1790

Mar 23 08:10:29 server automount[3604]: attempting to mount entry /net/NETAPP

Mar 23 08:10:29 server automount[3604]: dev_ioctl_send_fail: token = 88

Mar 23 08:10:29 server automount[3604]: failed to mount /net/NETAPP

Mar 23 08:10:29 server automount[3604]: handle_packet: type = 3

Mar 23 08:10:29 server automount[3604]: handle_packet_missing_indirect: token 89, name NETAPP, request pid 1790

Mar 23 08:10:29 server automount[3604]: attempting to mount entry /net/NETAPP

Mar 23 08:10:29 server automount[3604]: dev_ioctl_send_fail: token = 89

Mar 23 08:10:29 server automount[3604]: failed to mount /net/NETAPP

Resolution

Workaround:

Change

/net -hosts

to

/net /etc/auto.net --timeout=60

Please bear in mind, autofs reads shares on startup only. If new shares are added, autofs will not pick them up until the timeout was reached. Setting a lower timeout ensures shares are discovered faster.

Solution:

Contact SUSE Technical Services for a program temporary fix (PTF).

Cause

A problem with the fallback to TCP in the autofs code when the list of exported shares is too big to fit into UDP.

Additional Information

In order to disable debug output for the autofs managed mount point /net please execute:

/usr/sbin/automount -l info /net

Disclaimer

This Support Knowledgebase provides a valuable tool for SUSE customers and parties interested in our products and solutions to acquire information, ideas and learn from one another. Materials are provided for informational, personal or non-commercial use within your organization and are presented "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND.