Creating a single-node file server using the management console

To create an infrastructure for a single-node file server using the Yandex Cloud management console:

1. Prepare your cloud.
2. Create a security group.
3. Create a virtual machine for your file server.
4. Set up Samba and NFS.
5. Test your file server.

If you no longer need the resources you created, delete them.

Getting startedGetting started

Sign up for Yandex Cloud and create a billing account:

1. Go to the management console and log in to Yandex Cloud or create an account if you do not have one yet.
2. On the Yandex Cloud Billing page, make sure you have a billing account linked and it has the ACTIVE or TRIAL_ACTIVE status. If you do not have a billing account, create one.

If you have an active billing account, you can go to the cloud page to create or select a folder for your infrastructure to operate in.

Learn more about clouds and folders.

Required paid resourcesRequired paid resources

The cost for hosting a single node file server includes:

• Fee for a continuously running VM (see Yandex Compute Cloud pricing).
• Fee for using a dynamic or static public IP address (see Yandex Virtual Private Cloud pricing).
• Fee for the outbound traffic (see Yandex Virtual Private Cloud pricing).

Prepare the network infrastructurePrepare the network infrastructure

1. Go to the Yandex Cloud management console and select the folder where you will perform the operations.
2. Make sure the selected folder has a network with a subnet that the VM can be connected to. To do this, select Virtual Private Cloud on the folder page. If the list contains a network, click its name to see the available subnets. If there is neither network nor subnet, create them.

Create a security groupCreate a security group

To create a security group for your file server:

Create a virtual machine for your file serverCreate a virtual machine for your file server

To create a VM:

It may take a few minutes to create the VM. When the VM status switches to RUNNING, copy the public IP address: it will be listed on the VM page in the Network section. You will need the IP address later to configure NFS and Samba.

Set up Samba and NFSSet up Samba and NFS

After the fileserver-tutorial VM's status changes to RUNNING, do the following:

1. On the VM page of the management console, under Network, find the VM's public IP address.

2. Connect to the VM over SSH.

   The recommended authentication method when connecting over SSH is using a key pair. Make sure to set up the created key pair so that the private key matches the public key sent to the VM.

3. Configure Samba and NFS:

   Ubuntu

   1. Download and install Samba:

      sudo apt-get update
      sudo apt-get install nfs-kernel-server samba
      

   2. Prepare and mount the file system on the disk:

      sudo mkfs -t ext4 -L data /dev/vdb
      

   3. Prepare and mount the folder for data storage on the disk:

      sudo mkdir /<folder_name>
      echo "LABEL=data /<folder_name> ext4 defaults 0 0" | sudo tee -a /etc/fstab
      sudo mount /<folder_name>
      

   4. Set the NFS configuration in the /etc/exports file. You can edit the file using the nano utility:

      sudo nano /etc/exports
      

      Add the following lines to the file:

      /<folder_name> <IP_address>(rw,no_subtree_check,fsid=100)
      /<folder_name> 127.0.0.1(rw,no_subtree_check,fsid=100)
      

      Where <IP_address> is the IP address of the computer you are going to connect the network data disk to via NFS.

   5. Set the Samba configuration in the /etc/samba/smb.conf file. You can edit the file using the nano utility:

      sudo nano /etc/samba/smb.conf
      

      Edit the file as follows:

      [global]
         workgroup = WORKGROUP
         server string = %h server (Samba)
         dns proxy = no
         log file = /var/log/samba/log.%m
         max log size = 1000
         syslog = 0
         panic action = /usr/share/samba/panic-action %d
         server role = standalone server
         passdb backend = tdbsam
         obey pam restrictions = yes
         unix password sync = yes
         passwd program = /usr/bin/passwd %u
         passwd chat = *Enter\snew\s*\spassword:* %n\n *Retype\snew\s*\spassword:* %n\n *password\supdated\ssuccessfully* .
         pam password change = yes
         map to guest = bad user
         usershare allow guests = yes
      [printers]
         comment = All Printers
         browseable = no
         path = /var/spool/samba
         printable = yes
         guest ok = no
         read only = yes
         create mask = 0700
      [print$]
         comment = Printer Drivers
         path = /var/lib/samba/printers
         browseable = yes
         read only = yes
         guest ok = no
      [data]
         comment = /<folder_name>
         path = /<folder_name>
         browseable = yes
         read only = no
         writable = yes
         guest ok = yes
         hosts allow = <IP_address> 127.0.0.1
         hosts deny = 0.0.0.0/0
      

      Where <IP_address> in the [data] section is the IP address of the computer you are going to connect the network data disk to via NFS.

   6. Restart Samba and NFS:

      sudo service nfs-kernel-server restart
      sudo service smbd restart
      

Test your file serverTest your file server

1. Install ACL on the fileserver-tutorial VM:

   Ubuntu

   sudo apt install acl
   

2. On the fileserver-tutorial VM instance, create a directory named remote and the test.txt file:

   Ubuntu

   sudo mkdir /<folder_name>/remote
   sudo setfacl -m u:<name_of_your_user>:rwx /<folder_name>/remote
   echo "Hello world!" > /<folder_name>/remote/test.txt
   

3. Connect the network disk to your computer via NFS and check if the test file is available:

   Linux/macOS

   Windows

   If needed, install the network disk utility:

   sudo apt-get install nfs-common
   

   Create a mount point:

   sudo mkdir /remote-test-dir
   

   Attach a network disk:

   sudo mount -t nfs <VM_public_IP_address>:/<folder_name> /remote-test-dir
   

   As as result, the test directory and the file should become available at the mount point.

   1. Run the cmd.exe utility. To do this, use the Windows + R keyboard shortcut and run the cmd command.

   2. From the command line, run:

      net use x: \\<VM_public_IP_address>\folder_name
      

   This will create a disk X with the test directory and file.

How to delete the resources you createdHow to delete the resources you created

To stop paying for the resources you created:

1. Delete the VM.
2. Delete the static public IP address if you reserved one.

See alsoSee also

• Creating a single-node file server using Terraform.