---
name: "autofs"
section: "4"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["freebsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/autofs/4"
---

# autofs(4)

automounter filesystem

## NAME

**autofs** – automounter filesystem

## SYNOPSIS

To compile this driver into the kernel, place the following line in the kernel configuration file:

**options AUTOFS**

Alternatively, to load the driver as a module at boot time, place the following line in [loader.conf(5)](/loader.conf/5.md):

```
autofs_load="YES"
```

## DESCRIPTION

The **autofs** driver is the kernel component of the automounter infrastructure. Its job is to pass mount requests to the [automountd(8)](/automountd/8.md) daemon, and pause the processes trying to access the automounted filesystem until the mount is completed. It is mounted by the [automount(8)](/automount/8.md).

## OPTIONS

These options are available when mounting **autofs** file systems:

- **master\_options**

  Mount options for all filesystems specified in the map entry.

- **master\_prefix**

  Filesystem mountpoint prefix.

## SYSCTL VARIABLES

The following variables are available as both [sysctl(8)](/sysctl/8.md) variables and [loader(8)](/loader/8.md) tunables:

- *vfs.autofs.debug*

  Verbosity level for log messages from the **autofs** driver. Set to 0 to disable logging or 1 to warn about potential problems. Larger values enable debugging output. Defaults to 1.

- *vfs.autofs.interruptible*

  Set to 1 to allow mount requests to be interrupted by signal. Defaults to 1.

- *vfs.autofs.retry\_delay*

  Number of seconds before retrying mount requests. Defaults to 1.

- *vfs.autofs.retry\_attempts*

  Number of attempts before failing mount. Defaults to 3.

- *vfs.autofs.cache*

  Number of seconds to wait before reinvoking [automountd(8)](/automountd/8.md) for any given file or directory. Defaults to 600.

- *vfs.autofs.timeout*

  Number of seconds to wait for [automountd(8)](/automountd/8.md) to handle the mount request. Defaults to 30.

- *vfs.autofs.mount\_on\_stat*

  Set to 1 to trigger mount on [stat(2)](/stat/2.md) on mountpoint. Defaults to 0.

## EXAMPLES

To unmount all mounted **autofs** filesystems:

```
umount -At autofs
```

To mount **autofs** filesystems specified in [auto\_master(5)](/auto_master/5.md):

```
automount
```

## SEE ALSO

[auto\_master(5)](/auto_master/5.md), [automount(8)](/automount/8.md), [automountd(8)](/automountd/8.md), [autounmountd(8)](/autounmountd/8.md)

## HISTORY

The **autofs** driver first appeared in FreeBSD 10.1.

## AUTHORS

The **autofs** was developed by Edward Tomasz Napierala ⟨*trasz@FreeBSD.org*⟩ under sponsorship from the FreeBSD Foundation.