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Using merlin_rmount

Background

Merlin provides a command for mounting remote file systems, called merlin_rmount. This provides a helpful wrapper over the Gnome storage utilities (GIO and GVFS), and provides support for a wide range of remote file formats, including - SMB/CIFS (Windows shared folders) - WebDav - AFP - FTP, SFTP - complete list

Usage

Start a session

First, start a new session. This will start a new bash shell in the current terminal where you can add further commands.

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$ merlin_rmount --init
[INFO] Starting new D-Bus RMOUNT session

(RMOUNT STARTED) [bliven_s@login002 ~]$

Note that behind the scenes this is creating a new dbus daemon. Running multiple daemons on the same login node leads to unpredictable results, so it is best not to initialize multiple sessions in parallel.

Standard Endpoints

Standard endpoints can be mounted using

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merlin_rmount --select-mount

Select the desired url using the arrow keys.

merlin_rmount --select-mount

From this list any of the standard supported endpoints can be mounted.

Other endpoints

Other endpoints can be mounted using the merlin_rmount --mount <endpoint> command.

merlin_rmount --mount

Accessing Files

After mounting a volume the script will print the mountpoint. It should be of the form

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/run/user/$UID/gvfs/<endpoint>

where $UID gives your unix user id (a 5-digit number, also viewable with id -u) and <endpoint> is some string generated from the mount options.

For convenience, it may be useful to add a symbolic link for this gvfs directory. For instance, this would allow all volumes to be accessed in ~/mnt/:

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ln -s ~/mnt /run/user/$UID/gvfs

Files are accessible as long as the merlin_rmount shell remains open.

Disconnecting

To disconnect, close the session with one of the following:

  • The exit command
  • CTRL-D
  • Closing the terminal

Disconnecting will unmount all volumes.

Alternatives

Thunar

Users that prefer a GUI file browser may prefer the thunar command, which opens the Gnome File Browser. This is also available in NoMachine sessions in the bottom bar (1). Thunar supports the same remote filesystems as merlin_rmount; just type the URL in the address bar (2).

Mounting with thunar

When using thunar within a NoMachine session, file transfers continue after closing NoMachine (as long as the NoMachine session stays active).

Files can also be accessed at the command line as needed (see 'Accessing Files' above).

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