Learn how to resolve the NFS Cannot Access Stale File Handle error. Our NFS Support team is here to help you with your questions and concerns.

NFS Cannot Access Stale File Handle | 2 Solutions

Network File System is a popular way to share directories across different hosts but like any technology. However, it can also run into some issues. A common problem is stale file handles in NFS-mounted directories. This causes errors when running basic commands like ls or vi.

Today, our experts will help you get to the root of the error and how to solve it.

A stale file handle occurs when the file or directory referenced by the handle is deleted by another host while our client still has an active reference to the object.

For example, suppose the current directory of a process on our client is removed on the server, either by a server-side process or another client. The error will occur if the directory is modified on the NFS server without updating the directory’s modification time.

How to Fix the Stale File Handle Problem

If you have been having trouble with the “Stale File Handle” error, don’t worry, our experts have your back.
Here are two solutions to help you out:

1. Remount the Directory:

   The best way to resolve this issue is to remount the directory from the NFS client. Follow these steps:

   # umount -f /mnt/local
# mount -t nfs nfsserver:/path/to/share /mnt/local


   The first command forcefully unmounts the NFS disk partition at /mnt/local, while the second command remounts it with the necessary configurations.
2. Mount with noac Option:

   Alternatively, we can mount the NFS directory with the `noac` (no attribute cache) option. However, this may impact performance. Also, `noac` can lead to conflicting results when checking files on NFS filesystems referenced by file descriptors.

   While the `noac` option is available, our experts do not recommend using it unless we are aware of the potential consequences.

Stale file handles in NFS can be a frustrating issue, but armed with the right knowledge and solutions, you can quickly overcome it. By either remounting the directory or cautiously using the `noac` option, you can ensure a smoother NFS experience and minimize disruptions caused by stale file handles.

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Conclusion

In brief, our Support Experts demonstrated how to resolve the NFS Cannot Access Stale File Handle error.