Apparatus and method of exporting file systems without first mounting the file systems

A computer program product on a computer readable medium for exporting file systems comprising:

• code means for consulting a file associated with a mount point of a mounted file system to retrieve needed information to export the file systems, the mount point being the point at which the file systems are mounted on a computer system, wherein the needed information is names of devices within which the file systems are located;
• and
• code means for exporting the file systems, wherein the file systems are exported without first being mounted.

An apparatus for exporting file systems comprising:

• means for consulting a file associated with a mount point of a mounted file system to retrieve needed information to export the file systems, the mount point being the point at which the file systems are mounted on a computer system, wherein the needed information is names of devices within which the file systems are located;
• and
• means for exporting the file systems, wherein the file systems are exported without first being mounted.

A computer system for exporting file systems comprising:

• at least one storage device for storing code data;
• and
• at least one processor for processing the code data to consult a file associated with a mount point of a mounted file system to retrieve needed information to export the file systems, the mount point being the point at which the file systems are mounted on the computer system, wherein the needed information is names of devices within which the file systems are located, and to export the file systems, wherein the file systems are exported without first being mounted.