i really don't know what to say...
@moonman super thanks
it did work (mkinitcpio spat some warning about modules not being added...but i felt brave and just went through...)
i installed mainline kernel
uname -a gives me: $this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', 'Linux odroid-HC1 5.11.2-1-ARCH #1 SMP PREEMPT Sun Feb 28 22:03:25 UTC 2021 armv7l GNU/Linux')
i removed the IgnorePkg for nfs-utils in pacman.conf so it got upgraded to 2.5.4-1
$this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', 'pacman -Qs nfs-utils
local/nfs-utils 2.5.4-1
Support programs for Network File Systems')
i checked showmount from one of the clients and it shows the right shares...
if i can ask one more question, what would be the typical things that might not work with mainline?
honestly, my HC1 was meant to be a file server replacement for an old Raspberrypi, so i don't expect much more
... might check if i can make it a minetest server for me and my son to play...
anyway, thank you very much
M