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Data point from one user using Ubuntu and successfully manual-mounting their home directory on their cluster's head node:
sudo gpasswd -a $USER fuse
sshfs -o idmap=user lgr48@[NetID]@[machine].chem.cornell.edu:/home/[NetID]/ /home/whateever/youwant
Thus, adding of his user to the group fuse, and no use of sudo whatsoever.
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sshfs#[NetID]@[machinename].chem.cornell.edu:/home/[NetID]//home/whateever/youwant fuse defaults,idmap=user 0 0
He reports having to run the "sudo mount -a" command (to execute mount of all of /etc/fstab). This method first asks for sol's password (i.e. it disregard the .ssh key), it then mounts the whole thing inaccurately, so that privileges show as "?".
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