This brief tutorial is going to show you how to easily and properly mount external devices in Ubuntu automatically. These devices can be used as a backup storage to protect your important information in the event your computer dies or crashes. Nowadays, it easy to get hold of external USB devices that can store terabyte of data, and using these devices as a backup locations to keep your data secure is a smart move.
Computers have become a vital part of our lives. We use them at our work, school and in our homes. They contain so much information such as photos, documents, recipes and other important data that we can’t afford to lose. One thing you don’t want to do to is do nothing to
protect your information from accidental deletion or virus attack that corrupts your computer with all your data on it.
That’s why configuring an automatic backup and restore plan for your systems is smart.
This post will be divided into two parts. Part one will show you how to automatically mount your external USB devices and part two shows you how to configure Ubuntu to backup your documents and information to your mapped devices. This is an opportunity for you to protect yourself and keep your data secure.
To get started, attach all your USB devices to your Ubuntu machine. If you have more than one USB drives, plug them into your computer.
After that, press Ctrl – Alt – T on your keyboard to open the terminal. When it opens, run the commands below to show all the attached devices.
sudo blkid
Each USB device will show its unique ID and the file system type. In most cases it will either be vfat or NTFS partition for the device. What you need to do here is take notes of the device ID UUID=xxxxxxxxxxx and the file system type.
Next, type the commands below to open the fstab configuration file. This is where we’re going to specify how and where the device should be mounted.
gksu gedit /etc/fstab
Then add this line at the end of the file and save.
UUID=XXXX-XXXX /media/Backup vfat rw,user,suid,uid=1000,gid=1000,umask=000 0 0
Add the line above for each device you wish to mount or map in Ubuntu. Mine uid and gid is 1000, yours might be different. To find out your uid in Ubuntu, run the commands below:
id -u username
id –g username
Replace username with your username in Ubuntu.
Save the file and close out. After that, you’ll want to create the mount point which is /media/Backup in my fstab file. To create it, run the commands below:
sudo mkdir -p /media/Backup
After creating it, take ownership of it so you can be able to write to that location. To take ownership, run the commands below.
sudo chown -R username /media/BackupReplace username with your username in Ubuntu.
Replace
That’s it! Every time you sign into Ubuntu, you device will be mounted at /media/Backup or to whatever location you specified.
In our next post, I’ll show you how to setup a backup and restore process so that your files are stored to your external devices.
Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I auto mount external USB devices in Ubuntu 12.10?
You can auto mount external USB devices in Ubuntu 12.10 by following a few simple steps such as attaching the USB devices to your machine, opening the terminal, and running specific commands to show and mount the devices.
What is the importance of mounting external USB devices in Ubuntu?
Mounting external USB devices in Ubuntu is important as it allows you to easily access and use them for backup storage to protect your important data in case of computer failure or crashes.
Can external USB devices be used for automatic backup in Ubuntu?
Yes, external USB devices can be used for automatic backup in Ubuntu by configuring the system to backup documents and information to these devices, ensuring data security and protection.
How can I check the unique ID and file system type of attached USB devices in Ubuntu?
You can check the unique ID and file system type of attached USB devices in Ubuntu by opening the terminal and running the command 'sudo blkid', which will display the necessary information for each device.
What are the common file system types for external USB devices in Ubuntu?
The common file system types for external USB devices in Ubuntu are vfat and NTFS partitions, which are typically used for storage and compatibility with different operating systems.
What are the benefits of configuring an automatic backup and restore plan in Ubuntu?
Configuring an automatic backup and restore plan in Ubuntu helps protect your data from accidental deletion or virus attacks, ensuring that your important information is secure and easily recoverable.
How can I map external USB devices for backup in Ubuntu?
You can map external USB devices for backup in Ubuntu by configuring the system settings to recognize and use these devices as backup locations for your documents and information.
Why is it recommended to keep your data secure in Ubuntu using external USB devices?
It is recommended to keep your data secure in Ubuntu using external USB devices because they provide a reliable backup solution to safeguard your important information and prevent data loss.
