Installation/Configuration of FUSE FileSystem (sshfs)

Filesystem in Userspace is a simple interface for userspace programs to export a virtual filesystem to the Linux kernel. It also aims to provide a secure method for non privileged users to create and mount their own filesystem implementations.

With FUSE it is possible to implement a fully functional filesystem in a userspace program.

Features include:
    * Simple library API
    * Simple installation (no need to patch or recompile the kernel)
    * Secure implementation
    * Userspace - kernel interface is very efficient
    * Usable by non privileged users
    * Runs on Linux kernels 2.4.X and 2.6.X
    * Has proven very stable over time

Installation: FUSE
1. Download the latest stable FUSE tarball from the SourceForge.net
2. Unpack the archive: tar -zxvf fuse-2.7.4.tar.gz
3. configure FUSE for compilation: ./configure –disable-kernel-module --prefix=/usr
4. Compile FUSE: make
5. If the compilation completes successfully, enter make install to complete the installation of FUSE

Installation sshfs-fuse
1. Download the latest stable sshfs-fuse tarball from SourceForge.net
2. Unpack the archive: tar -zxvf sshfs-fuse-2.2.tar.gz
3. Configure sshfs-fuse for compilation: ./configure --prefix=/usr
4. Compile sshfs-fuse: make 
5. If the compilation completes successfully, enter make install to complete the installation of sshfs-fuse

Mount a FUSE Filesystem
Enter sshfs username@server:/directory /mountpoint to use FUSE to mount a directory on a remote server.

Note, that it's recommended to run it as user, not as root.  For this to work the mountpoint must be owned by the user.  If the username is different on the host you are connecting to, then use the "username@host:" form.  If you need to enter a password sshfs will ask for it (actually it just runs ssh which ask for the password if needed).  You can also specify a directory after the ":".  The default is the home directory.