Vagrant error: NFS is reporting that your exports file is invalid

I am trying to set up the Discourse development environment using these instructions. However when I run Vagrant I get the error:

> NFS is reporting that your exports file is invalid. Vagrant does this check before making any changes to the file. Please correct the issues below and execute "vagrant reload": > > Can't open /etc/exports

I checked, and I don't have an etc/exports folder, so I created one and ran vagrant reload. This got me:

> /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/plugins/hosts/bsd/host.rb:146:in read': Is a directory - /etc/exports (Errno::EISDIR) from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/plugins/hosts/bsd/host.rb:146:in nfs_prune' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/plugins/synced_folders/nfs/synced_folder.rb:68:in cleanup' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/builtin/synced_folder_cleanup.rb:24:in block in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/builtin/synced_folder_cleanup.rb:22:in each_key' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/builtin/synced_folder_cleanup.rb:22:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/warden.rb:34:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/plugins/providers/virtualbox/action/prepare_nfs_valid_ids.rb:12:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/warden.rb:34:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/builtin/handle_forwarded_port_collisions.rb:118:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/warden.rb:34:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/plugins/providers/virtualbox/action/prepare_forwarded_port_collision_params.rb:30:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/warden.rb:34:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/builtin/env_set.rb:19:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/warden.rb:34:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/builtin/provision.rb:52:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/warden.rb:34:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/plugins/providers/virtualbox/action/clear_forwarded_ports.rb:13:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/warden.rb:34:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/plugins/providers/virtualbox/action/set_name.rb:19:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/warden.rb:34:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/plugins/providers/virtualbox/action/clean_machine_folder.rb:17:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/warden.rb:34:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/plugins/providers/virtualbox/action/check_accessible.rb:18:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/warden.rb:34:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/warden.rb:95:in block in finalize_action' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/warden.rb:34:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/warden.rb:34:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/builder.rb:116:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/runner.rb:69:in block in run' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/util/busy.rb:19:in busy' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/runner.rb:69:in run' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/builtin/call.rb:51:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/warden.rb:34:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/warden.rb:95:in block in finalize_action' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/warden.rb:34:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/warden.rb:34:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/builder.rb:116:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/runner.rb:69:in block in run' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/util/busy.rb:19:in busy' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/runner.rb:69:in run' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/builtin/call.rb:51:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/warden.rb:34:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/warden.rb:95:in block in finalize_action' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/warden.rb:34:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/warden.rb:34:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/builder.rb:116:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/runner.rb:69:in block in run' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/util/busy.rb:19:in busy' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/runner.rb:69:in run' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/builtin/call.rb:51:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/warden.rb:34:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/builtin/config_validate.rb:25:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/warden.rb:34:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/plugins/providers/virtualbox/action/check_virtualbox.rb:17:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/warden.rb:34:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/builtin/call.rb:57:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/warden.rb:34:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/plugins/providers/virtualbox/action/check_virtualbox.rb:17:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/warden.rb:34:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/builtin/config_validate.rb:25:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/warden.rb:34:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/warden.rb:95:in block in finalize_action' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/warden.rb:34:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/warden.rb:34:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/builder.rb:116:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/runner.rb:69:in block in run' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/util/busy.rb:19:in busy' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/runner.rb:69:in run' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/builtin/call.rb:51:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/warden.rb:34:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/plugins/providers/virtualbox/action/check_virtualbox.rb:17:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/warden.rb:34:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/builder.rb:116:in call' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/runner.rb:69:in block in run' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/util/busy.rb:19:in busy' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/action/runner.rb:69:in run' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/machine.rb:147:in action' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/plugins/commands/reload/command.rb:37:in block in execute' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/plugin/v2/command.rb:193:in block in with_target_vms' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/plugin/v2/command.rb:191:in each' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/plugin/v2/command.rb:191:in with_target_vms' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/plugins/commands/reload/command.rb:36:in execute' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/cli.rb:38:in execute' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/lib/vagrant/environment.rb:484:in cli' from /Applications/Vagrant/embedded/gems/gems/vagrant-1.4.1/bin/vagrant:127:in ' from /Applications/Vagrant/bin/../embedded/gems/bin/vagrant:23:in load' from /Applications/Vagrant/bin/../embedded/gems/bin/vagrant:23:in

'

I am on a Mac (OS X 10.6.8). How do I fix this? I tried searching for the original error message, and all I found was a few repositories containing the Vagrant source code that throws it.

I had some previous images/boxes installed in my VirtualBox installation, so there were a few invalid entries in /etc/exports already. So I had to clean up that file and restart my Vagrant box.

NFS is reporting that your exports file is invalid. Vagrant does
this check before making any changes to the file. Please correct
the issues below and execute "vagrant reload":

Here's what I did on my host machine:

sudo rm /etc/exports
sudo touch /etc/exports

vagrant halt
vagrant up --provision

I ran into this issue with Vagrant 1.4.1 and VirtualBox 4.3.6 on OS X 10.9 Mavericks (13A603). I was able to fix it with a simple command to create the missing /etc/exports file. Run this on OS X, not guest, as pointed out in comments below.

$ sudo touch /etc/exports

I was then able to successfully run vagrant up. I did run into another error where the Guest Additions weren't up to date, but I fixed that issue by installing the vagrant-vbguest plugin.

$ vagrant plugin install vagrant-vbguest

and then a quick vagrant reload and I was up and running!

For me, this error started appearing for a working Vagrant environment.

I had renamed the directory Vagrant was running from. To fix it, I ran 'sudo vi /etc/exports' and fixed the pathname so it pointed to my current directory.

The same thing happened to me. I copied over my Vagrantfile from another project and forgot to change the NFS settings. This caused the current VM to mount the parent folder of the VM that I copied the original Vagrantfile from. So I did this:

vagrant halt
vagrant up

Still got the same error. So I tracked down my exports file located at /etc/exports which looks like this:

# VAGRANT-BEGIN: 501 64e10d4d-342e-4f55-b69a-97edda35742f
"/Users/[username]/vagrant" 192.168.11.12 -alldirs -mapall=501:20
# VAGRANT-END: 501 64e10d4d-342e-4f55-b69a-97edda35742f
# VAGRANT-BEGIN: 501 b3c6e7fe-95d4-48db-8876-c89d3e07af8d
"/Users/[username]/Sites/molitech-oms" 192.168.11.124 -alldirs -mapall=501:20
# VAGRANT-END: 501 b3c6e7fe-95d4-48db-8876-c89d3e07af8d
# VAGRANT-BEGIN: 501 3e2aabfd-ce63-441b-85a2-1b51e8beb863
"/Users/[username]/Sites/app" 192.168.11.125 -alldirs -mapall=501:20
# VAGRANT-END: 501 3e2aabfd-ce63-441b-85a2-1b51e8beb863
# VAGRANT-BEGIN: 501 ff92e353-9f6d-48ee-9d76-e29b33f1dd60
"/Users/[username]/Sites" 192.168.11.126 -alldirs -mapall=501:20
# VAGRANT-END: 501 ff92e353-9f6d-48ee-9d76-e29b33f1dd60

The last two paths are the same. So I deleted the last three lines and ran:

vagrant halt && vagrant up

Now everything seems to be working fine.

OSX 10.11.1 Vagrant 1.7.4

I didn't want to go through the hassle of downgrading. This is what I did (still took a while, but less hassle than downgrading IMHO):

1. In the VM Vagrantfile, for any synced folder, disabled NFS

   config.vm.synced_folder ".", "/vagrant", nfs: false

2. Removed /etc/exports

   sudo mv /etc/exports ~/Desktop/exports

3. Rewrite /etc/exports

   vagrant up

4. Re-enable NFS if you want/need it enabled on your VM

   config.vm.synced_folder ".", "/vagrant", nfs: true

Just run following commands:

sudo rm /etc/exports
sudo touch /etc/exports
vagrant reload

Do NOT use vagrant up --provision if you are not sure that it won't overwrite current status of your project.

On Ubuntu 12 host/Ubuntu 12 guest the following worked for me with Discourse:

nfs_setting = RUBY_PLATFORM =~ /darwin/ || RUBY_PLATFORM =~ /linux/
config.vm.synced_folder ".", "/vagrant", id: "vagrant-root", type: "nfs", nfs_udp: "true", nfs_version: "4", :nfs => nfs_setting

Note: I also had to add a host IP address determined by Vagrant and guest IP address determined by Vagrant to firewall exceptions.

i ran vagrant box list this showed me that there were 4 vagrant boxes (must have accidentally created them at some point - i usually only use one. So then I ran vagrant box prune , which deleted my unused boxes. then vagrant up started working again!

Try using the known good versions of VirtualBox and Vagrant noted in Discourse as Your First Rails App:

• Vagrant 1.1.2
• VirtualBox 4.2.10

I was having the same issue on Mac (OS X 10.9 (Mavericks)), but rolling back to these versions seemed to fix it for me.