If you create an fstab entry and mark in "noauto" then the OS won't look for the device until you actually plug it in.
1. Create the directory to be mounted to, e.g. /media/MY_EXTERNAL_DISK 2. Add this to fstab */dev/sdc1 /media/MY_EXTERNAL_DISK vfat noauto,users,gid=users,fmask=113,dmask=003 * 3. Load Dolphin or Nautilus and you should see your external hard disk on the left hand side. You should be able to mount and unmount it and all users should be able to see it. Your bigger issue is that this fstab entry will work for every single external hard disk that's mounted at /dev/sdb1 To overcome this, look in the /dev/disk/by-id folder and see the symlink that points to /dev/sdb1, for my Cruzer Sandisk, I see this: *lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 10 Feb 3 15:40 usb-SanDisk_Cruzer_22430207601162D5-0:0-part1 -> ../../sdc1* So I can edit my fstab and put this: */dev/disk/by-id/**usb-SanDisk_Cruzer_22430207601162D5-0:0-part1** /media/MY_EXTERNAL_DISK vfat noauto,users,gid=users,fmask=113,dmask=003 * Voila! Peter "Happiness makes up in height what it lacks in length" -- Robert Frost On 3 February 2010 13:23, Bernard Wanyama <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi RIchard, > > Ideally, we'd try and catch the device whenever it gets plugged in and give > it wider permissions for all users on the system. > > Kind regards, > Bernard > > > On 3 February 2010 12:52, Richard Austin <[email protected]> wrote: > >> I'm using Ubuntu 9.10. Wouldn't editing the etc/fstab make it a permanent >> solution, ie. it would always try and mount the device? What happens when it >> isn't plugged in? >> >> >> >> On 03/02/10 12:15, Bernard Wanyama wrote: >> >> Hi Richard, >> >> What OS are you running? >> >> Looks like a 'simple' matter of changing the /etc/fstab options. >> >> Kind regards, >> Bernard >> >> On 3 February 2010 10:02, Richard Austin <[email protected]>wrote: >> >>> On a similar theme. >>> >>> I use a USB stick or a USB drive for large data files ( music etc.) >>> >>> The problem I have is that it is only available to one logged in user and >>> not others on the same machine. >>> >>> Is there any way to make the USB devices available to all. Bear in mind >>> that sometimes there are not plugged in, so a permanent mount option is not >>> the way to go. >>> >>> >>> >>> On 03/02/10 09:21, Simon Vass wrote: >>> >>>> Fantastic! Way to go Bernard. >>>> >>>> Simon Vass >>>> Technical Manager >>>> E-Tech Uganda Ltd >>>> http://www.etech.ug >>>> Tel: +256 (0) 312260620 or (0) 312260621 >>>> Email: [email protected] >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> ----- Original Message ----- >>>> From: "Bernard Wanyama"<[email protected]> >>>> To: "Linux Users Group Uganda"<[email protected]> >>>> Cc: [email protected] >>>> Sent: Wednesday, February 3, 2010 1:13:02 AM GMT +03:00 Iraq >>>> Subject: Re: [LUG] USB Stick >>>> >>>> Hi all, >>>> >>>> We finally fixed it today. >>>> >>>> Jacques had accidentally knocked out the partition table of his hard >>>> disk (/dev/sdb) and not that of the USB stick (/dev/sdd)! >>>> >>>> Luckily, he had a live-USB Ubuntu - Karmic Koala - Netbook remix. >>>> >>>> We booted off the USB. downloaded testdisk debian package and >>>> installed it - right on the live USB. We then used testdisk to search >>>> the hard disk (/dev/sdb) for previous partitions and we did find his >>>> last valid partition. Restore, save, reboot! >>>> >>>> We got right back in and when the laptop booted into his old desktop >>>> environment, I discovered that Jacques could actually say thank you in >>>> Luganda!! >>>> >>>> We also decided to fix the 'offending' USB stick by wiping its >>>> partition table using gparted in Ubuntu and creating a VFAT partition >>>> on it. After that, the full 2GB capacity was available - at least we >>>> could copy and play back some Beatles and Tempations audio files. >>>> >>>> A wonderful evening of data recovery - courtesy of Testdisk and Ubuntu >>>> Karmic Koala. >>>> >>>> Cheers! >>>> Bernard >>>> >>>> On 01/02/2010, Peter C. Ndikuwera<[email protected]> wrote: >>>> >>>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> LUG mailing list >>> [email protected] >>> http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/lug >>> %LUG is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/ >>> >>> The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including >>> attachments if any). The List's Host is not responsible for them in any way. >>> --------------------------------------- >>> >>> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> LUG mailing [email protected]http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/lug >> %LUG is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/ >> >> The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including >> attachments if any). The List's Host is not responsible for them in any way. >> --------------------------------------- >> >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> LUG mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/lug >> %LUG is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/ >> >> The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including >> attachments if any). The List's Host is not responsible for them in any way. >> --------------------------------------- >> >> >> > > _______________________________________________ > LUG mailing list > [email protected] > http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/lug > %LUG is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/ > > The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including > attachments if any). The List's Host is not responsible for them in any way. > --------------------------------------- > > >
_______________________________________________ LUG mailing list [email protected] http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/lug %LUG is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/ The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including attachments if any). The List's Host is not responsible for them in any way. ---------------------------------------
