# Create Shares

A share represents individual file systems within the Network File Storage cluster. Each cluster can contain multiple shares within it.

## Prerequisites

* Only contract administrators, owners, and users with **Access and Manage Network File Storage** privilege are allowed to create shares. You can set the privilege via the DCD group privileges. For more information, see [<mark style="color:blue;">Manage User Access</mark>](https://docs.ionos.com/cloud/getting-started/basic-tutorials/manage-user-access).

## Create a Share

To create a share within a Network File Storage cluster, follow these steps:

1. Log in to the DCD with your username and password.
2. Go to **Menu** > **Storage** > **Network File Storage**.
3. Select a cluster from the list of clusters.
4. Enter the following details in the **Create Share** window:
   * [<mark style="color:blue;">Define Share Properties</mark>](#define-share-properties)
   * [<mark style="color:blue;">Add Client Groups</mark>](#add-client-groups)
5. Click **Save** to create a share.

{% hint style="success" %}
**Result:** A share is created within the selected Network File Storage Cluster.
{% endhint %}

## Define Share Properties

To define share properties, specify the following:

1. **NAME:** Enter an appropriate name for the share.
2. *(Optional)* **QUOTA:** Specify the quota in MiB to restrict the amount of data that can be stored within the export file. Set the value to zero, if you want to disable the quota for export.
3. *(Optional)* **GID:** The ID of the group that owns the exported share. The default value is 512.
4. *(Optional)* **UID:** The ID of the user who owns the exported directory. The default value is 512.

## Add Client Groups

Multiple VMs from within a VDC can be connected to shares of a Network File Storage's cluster via a private LAN.

1. *(Optional)* **Description:** Enter necessary information about the client group.
2. **IP Networks:** Select **+ Add IP Network** to add an IP address with the mask CIDR notation. The specified network therefore becomes an authorized network while restricting access to all other networks. Example: 127.0.0.1/24.
3. **Hosts:** Select **+ Add Host** to add the number of VMs that is allowed to access the share. Example: 10.234.62.123.
4. **NFS Squash Mode:** Select a squash mode for export. For more information, see [Root squash security](/cloud/~/revisions/AMiYziCllTKB2y2lmONY/storage-and-backup/network-file-storage/overview/features-benefits.md). You can choose one of the following:
   * **None:** Select if you do not want a squash mode. For security reasons, we do not recommend setting the mode to **None**.
   * **Root Anonymous:** Select to map a root user to an anonymous user.
   * **All Anonymous:** Select to map all users to anonymous user.


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.ionos.com/cloud/~/revisions/AMiYziCllTKB2y2lmONY/storage-and-backup/network-file-storage/how-tos/create-nfs-share.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.