Automount command of Linux

["Ajay Bansal" <Ajay_Bansal infosys com>]

Hi All

They say that real UNIX systems automatically mount the network shares
that you need to use. 

For example lets us suppose if I have two hosts, Jupiter (HP system) and
Uranus (Solaris system). Now I have shared /export directory from
Jupiter in read-write mode. I put entry of Jupiter in the hosts file of
Uranus. And then on Uranus, I just say "ls /net/Jupiter/export".. And
lo... I can see the contents of /export directory of Jupiter from
Uranus.

Till now, on my Linux (RH 7.3) I was using permanent mounts using fstab.
Everything is fine. But, while booting up the Linux system, if Jupiter
was down, my RH would also not boot... :((..  Then... some good soul
told me that even Linux has automount. Infect it has a "automount"
command. 

But how does it work. Why, in popular language.... Linux does not behave
as a real UNIX system???

Somebody help me out.. And it is not only one machine. I have around 25
UNIX machine, shares of which I regularly  access from one or other Unix
machine. Linux machines are new entrants to this network. 

Please tell me the easiest way to access  the UNIX shares.. :)

TIA
Ajay