How to mount S3-compatible Cloud Storage on your server and access it locally

Mounting cloud storage directly into your server’s local filesystem is a powerful way to streamline file management. Whether you’re working with Amazon S3, Google Cloud Storage (GCS), or other S3-compatible services like Backblaze B2 or Wasabi, treating cloud buckets as local directories enables seamless integration into scripts, backup workflows, and applications.

This guide explains how to mount S3-compatible storage on a Linux server using three popular tools: s3fs-fuse, gcsfuse, and rclone.

Mounting S3-Compatible Buckets Using s3fs-fuse

s3fs-fuse allows you to mount S3 buckets (or any service with an S3-compatible API) as local filesystems.

Step 1: Install s3fs-fuse

On Debian/Ubuntu-based systems:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install s3fs

Step 2: Configure Access Credentials

Create a credentials file:

echo "ACCESS_KEY_ID:SECRET_ACCESS_KEY" | sudo tee /etc/passwd-s3fs
sudo chmod 600 /etc/passwd-s3fs

Replace ACCESS_KEY_ID and SECRET_ACCESS_KEY with your actual credentials.

Step 3: Mount the Bucket

Create a mount point and mount your bucket:

sudo mkdir /mnt/s3
sudo s3fs YOUR_BUCKET_NAME /mnt/s3 -o passwd_file=/etc/passwd-s3fs

You can now navigate to /mnt/s3 and interact with your cloud files as if they were local.

Mounting Google Cloud Storage Buckets Using gcsfuse

For direct access to Google Cloud Storage buckets.

Step 1: Install gcsfuse

Add the repository and install:

export GCSFUSE_REPO=gcsfuse-`lsb_release -c -s`
echo "deb http://packages.cloud.google.com/apt $GCSFUSE_REPO main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/gcsfuse.list
curl https://packages.cloud.google.com/apt/doc/apt-key.gpg | sudo apt-key add -
sudo apt update
sudo apt install gcsfuse

Step 2: Authenticate with Google Cloud

Make sure the Google Cloud SDK is installed, then run:

gcloud auth login
gcloud config set project [YOUR_PROJECT_ID]

Step 3: Mount the Bucket

sudo mkdir /mnt/gcs
gcsfuse YOUR_GCS_BUCKET /mnt/gcs

Replace YOUR_GCS_BUCKET with your actual bucket name. The contents will now be available under /mnt/gcs.

Mounting Cloud Buckets with rclone

rclone is a flexible tool that supports dozens of cloud storage providers.

Step 1: Install rclone

curl https://rclone.org/install.sh | sudo bash

Step 2: Configure rclone

Start the configuration wizard:

rclone config

Follow the prompts to set up a new remote for your storage provider (e.g., Backblaze B2, S3, Wasabi, etc.).

Step 3: Mount the Remote Bucket

sudo mkdir /mnt/cloud
rclone mount REMOTE_NAME:BUCKET_NAME /mnt/cloud --daemon

Replace REMOTE_NAME with the name you assigned during setup, and BUCKET_NAME with your bucket’s name. The --daemon flag allows rclone to run in the background.

Final Thoughts

Mounting cloud storage as a local directory can simplify file handling and backup automation across cloud platforms. However, be mindful of:

• Performance: Network latency and bandwidth affect file access speed.
• System Resources: Mounted storage can consume memory and CPU, especially with many or large files.
• Costs: Cloud providers may charge for data transfers and API calls, so monitor usage.

These solutions are excellent for development environments, automation tasks, or hybrid cloud setups. Always review documentation and test carefully before using in production.