Control Mounting and Unmounting of Filesystems Part 1 Mount at boot

Linux attaches storage devices to the directory tree by “mounting” them on existing folders. In this guide, you’ll learn how to:

Manually mount and unmount filesystems
Configure automatic mounts at boot using /etc/fstab
Enable swap partitions at startup
Use UUIDs for stable device identification

1. Manual Mounting and Unmounting

1.1 Verify an Empty Mount Point

A common temporary mount directory is /mnt. Confirm it’s empty:

ls /mnt/

1.2 Mount an XFS Filesystem

Assuming you created an XFS filesystem on /dev/vdb1, mount it to /mnt:

sudo mount /dev/vdb1 /mnt

Now /mnt is the root of that filesystem. Create a test file and verify:

sudo touch /mnt/testfile
ls -l /mnt/
# -rw-rw-r--. 1 aaron aaron 0 Jan 31 14:30 testfile

Use lsblk to confirm the mount point:

lsblk
# NAME    MAJ:MIN RM  SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINT
# vdb     8:16   0   10G  0 disk 
# └─vdb1  8:17   0    4G  0 part /mnt

1.3 Unmount the Filesystem

To detach the filesystem:

sudo umount /mnt

Then verify it’s no longer mounted:

lsblk
ls /mnt/

2. Automatic Mounting at Boot with `/etc/fstab`

The /etc/fstab file defines filesystems to mount automatically during system startup.

2.1 Create the Mount Point

sudo mkdir /mybackups

2.2 Understand `/etc/fstab` Fields

Field	Description	Example
Device	Block device path or UUID	`/dev/vdb1` or `UUID=...`
Mount point	Directory to attach the filesystem	`/mybackups`
Filesystem type	`xfs`, `ext4`, `swap`, etc.	`xfs`, `swap`
Options	Mount options, e.g., `defaults`, `rw`, `noexec`	`defaults`
Dump	`0` = disable, `1` = enable (for `dump` utility)	`0`
Pass (fsck order)	`0` = skip, `1` = root, `2` = other filesystems	`2`

2.3 Add an XFS Entry

Open /etc/fstab in your editor:

sudo vim /etc/fstab

Append:

/dev/vdb1    /mybackups    xfs    defaults    0    2

If you don’t plan to reboot immediately, apply the new mounts with:

sudo mount -a

2.4 Verify and Reboot

Confirm /mybackups is not yet mounted:

ls /mybackups/
lsblk | grep mybackups

Reboot the system:

sudo systemctl reboot

After login, verify the mount:

ls -l /mybackups/
lsblk | grep mybackups
# vdb1   8:17   0   4G  0 part /mybackups

3. Enabling Swap at Boot

If you created a swap partition on /dev/vdb3, add it to /etc/fstab so it’s activated at startup.

3.1 Add Swap Entry

Edit /etc/fstab and append:

/dev/vdb3    none    swap    defaults    0    0

Here, the mount point is none, and 0 0 disables dump and fsck.

3.2 Verify Swap

Reload systemd (or reboot) and check:

sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo swapon --show
# NAME        TYPE      SIZE USED PRIO
# /dev/vdb3   partition 2G   0B   -2

4. Using UUIDs Instead of Device Names

Device names can change if hardware is reconfigured. UUIDs remain constant.

4.1 Retrieve a Device’s UUID

sudo blkid /dev/vdb1
# /dev/vdb1: LABEL="FirstFS" UUID="9ab8cfa5-2813-4b70-ada0-7abd0ad9d289" TYPE="xfs"

4.2 Example `/etc/fstab` Entry with UUID

UUID=9ab8cfa5-2813-4b70-ada0-7abd0ad9d289    /mybackups    xfs    defaults    0    2

Links and References

Watch Video

Create Partitions and Filesystems btrfs

Control Mounting and Unmounting of Filesystems Part 1 Mount on demand

Introduction

System Architecture

Linux Installation and Package Management

GNU and Unix Commands

Devices, Linux Filesystems, Filesystem Hierarchy Standard

Conclusion and Mock Exam

Control Mounting and Unmounting of Filesystems Part 1 Mount at boot

1. Manual Mounting and Unmounting

1.1 Verify an Empty Mount Point

1.2 Mount an XFS Filesystem

1.3 Unmount the Filesystem

2. Automatic Mounting at Boot with `/etc/fstab`

2.1 Create the Mount Point

2.2 Understand `/etc/fstab` Fields

2.3 Add an XFS Entry

2.4 Verify and Reboot

3. Enabling Swap at Boot

3.1 Add Swap Entry

3.2 Verify Swap

4. Using UUIDs Instead of Device Names

4.1 Retrieve a Device’s UUID

4.2 Example `/etc/fstab` Entry with UUID

Links and References

Watch Video

​1. Manual Mounting and Unmounting

​1.1 Verify an Empty Mount Point

​1.2 Mount an XFS Filesystem

​1.3 Unmount the Filesystem

​2. Automatic Mounting at Boot with /etc/fstab

​2.1 Create the Mount Point

​2.2 Understand /etc/fstab Fields

​2.3 Add an XFS Entry

​2.4 Verify and Reboot

​3. Enabling Swap at Boot

​3.1 Add Swap Entry

​3.2 Verify Swap

​4. Using UUIDs Instead of Device Names

​4.1 Retrieve a Device’s UUID

​4.2 Example /etc/fstab Entry with UUID

​Links and References

Watch Video

1. Manual Mounting and Unmounting

1.1 Verify an Empty Mount Point

1.2 Mount an XFS Filesystem

1.3 Unmount the Filesystem

2. Automatic Mounting at Boot with `/etc/fstab`

2.1 Create the Mount Point

2.2 Understand `/etc/fstab` Fields

2.3 Add an XFS Entry

2.4 Verify and Reboot

3. Enabling Swap at Boot

3.1 Add Swap Entry

3.2 Verify Swap

4. Using UUIDs Instead of Device Names

4.1 Retrieve a Device’s UUID

4.2 Example `/etc/fstab` Entry with UUID

Links and References