Softlinks are useful on any operating system to replace long, complicated directory paths with a simpler one. Options for accessing remote softlinked paths over SSHFS is best done with the sshfs -follow_symlinks option.

Example:

• Server: joe@1.2.3.4 with external HDD /media/BigHDD
• Laptop: remote SSHFS ~/X

Setup server:

ln -s /media/BigHDD ~/BigHDD

On laptop create joeBigHDD.sh

#!/bin/sh
sshfs -o follow_symlinks joe@1.2.3.4: ~/X

then

mkdir ~/X
chmod +x joeBigHDD.sh

Connect to remote HDD from laptop via SSHFS

./joeBigHDD.sh

cd ~/X/BigHDD

To disconnect the SSHFS drive, on laptop:

fusermount -uz ~/X