Using an USB memory key under Linux

Automatic setup based upon version used

Follow the procedure below to set up automatically your USB key:

Mandriva

Mandriva automatically detect USB keys and a desktop shortcut is created, through which files found on the USB key can be accessed. Right click to unmount device. The default path is /mnt/removable.

Fedora Core

Use the same procedure as describe above.

Debian & consort

For Debian and other versions, using a gnome desktop, the gnome-volume-manager package allows you to detect, mount and create desktop shortcut automatically.

Manual setup

If you want to mount a USB key using the command lines.

Create a directory using the following command:

# mkdir /mnt/cle

Its important that the tools to manage USB ports (usbutils package) are already installed, if the key is recognized the following command returns a line with the brand of your key:

$ lsusb

Mount the key using the following command:

mount -t vfat /dev/sda1 /mnt/cle

If sda1 does not work, try sda, sdb or sdb1. A visit / dev can see what is already on your system. / dev/sda1 can not be created only when the key is connected.

To mount the key easily, simply add a line in fstab as root.

# vim /etc/fstab

Adding a line on the USB drive.

/dev/sda1 /mnt/cle vfat noauto,users,noexec,rw, uid=1000,gid=1000 0 0

rw: You can read / write
noexec: noexec by exec change if we want to allow executions.
users: allow you to mount the device
uid and gid: gives additional rights to the user

Type in: $ mount /mnt/cle

Notice: In order to avoid any data loss or damage your USB key, don’t forget to umount your device before removing it.