Getting "mount error(5): Input/output error" when mounting windows share on SLE 12 SP1

This document (7017413) is provided subject to the disclaimer at the end of this document.

Environment

SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP1
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP1
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 12
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12

Situation

When trying to mount a Windows / cifs / samba share it would give the following error:
  mount error(5): Input/output error
  Refer to the mount.cifs(8) manual page (e.g. man mount.cifs)

In SLE 11 SP3 the same command would work when mounting this same Windows share.
Here is a copy of the SP3 syntax that works
  mount -t cifs //server.suse.com:/home /mnt/test -o username=corpdom\\username

In SLE 12 SP1 a similar command would fail
  mount -t cifs //server.suse.com/home /mnt/test -o username=corpdom\\username
Here is the error on the command line after running this command
  mount error(5): Input/output error
  Refer to the mount.cifs(8) manual page (e.g. man mount.cifs)

If you look at the end of "journalctl" you will see these errors.
  Status code returned 0xc0000001 NT_STATUS_UNSUCCESSFUL
  CIFS VFS: Send error in SessSetup = -5
  CIFS VFS: cifs_mount failed w/return code = -5
 

Resolution

Add "sec=ntlm" to the options in the mount command.
Change "username=corpdom\\username" to "username=username,domain=corpdom"

Examples of a working SLE 12 SP1 mount command
  mount -t cifs //IPADDRESS/home /mnt/test -o username=username,domain=corpdom,sec=ntlm
  mount --verbose -t cifs //IPADDRESS/home /mnt/test -o username=jmortenson,domain=corpdom,password=XXXXXXXX,sec=ntlm
  mount --verbose -t cifs //server.suse.com/home /mnt/test -o username=username,domain=corpdom,password=XXXXXXXX,sec=ntlm

Example for /etc/fstab
  //IPADDRESS/home/ /mnt/test cifs rw,sec=ntlm,username=username,domain=corpdom,password=XXXXXXXX,sec=ntlm
  //server.suse.com/home/ /mnt/test cifs rw,sec=ntlm,username=username,domain=corpdom,password=XXXXXXXX,sec=ntlm

Cause

A LAN trace revealed that mount.cifs in SLE 11 SP3 was using "ntlm" for the security mode.
A LAN trace revealed that mount.cifs in SLE 12 SP1 was using "ntlmssp" for the security mode.
Add the option "sec=ntlm" to the mount command to change the security mode to match SLE 11 SP3.

This syntax does not work with SLE 12 SP1 change "username=corpdom\\username" to "username=username,domain=corpdom"

Additional Information

smbclient worked fine so this proved that the user was allowed to see and use the Windows share.
  smbclient -L IPADDRESS -U username -W corpdom
  smbclient //server.suse.com/home -U username -W corpdom


Disclaimer

This Support Knowledgebase provides a valuable tool for SUSE customers and parties interested in our products and solutions to acquire information, ideas and learn from one another. Materials are provided for informational, personal or non-commercial use within your organization and are presented "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND.

  • Document ID:7017413
  • Creation Date: 25-Mar-2016
  • Modified Date:03-Mar-2020
    • SUSE Linux Enterprise Server

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