[Solved] Set partitions to hide or read only

[Alex_80]

I wish that some partitions were hidden and others were read only, moreover I wish that these settings can't be edited by other users (except of course root user).

For do this, have I only in "fstab" file in "etc" folder to comment (or delete) lines relatives to partitions that I wish are hides and I set options to "ro" to lines relatives to partitions that I wish are read only?

[ComputerBob]

I wish that some partitions were hidden and others were read only, moreover I wish that these settings can't be edited by other users (except of course root user).

For do this, have I only in "fstab" file in "etc" folder to comment (or delete) lines relatives to partitions that I wish are hides and I set options to "ro" to lines relatives to partitions that I wish are read only?

If they ever boot from a Linux LiveCD, they'd still be able to mount/edit/delete those partitions.

[Alex_80]

This isn't a problem.

After installation I have noticed that some partitions were auto mounted, others were manual mountable and others can't be mountable, so I have thought that I could solve my trouble in some manner, I have noticed that in "fstab" file in "etc" folder partitions had different options, so I have thought that editing fstab only, without editing other things, I could solve my trouble, but I'm not sure of that, so to avoid to make damages I ask for confirmation.

[ComputerBob]

This isn't a problem.

After installation I have noticed that some partitions were auto mounted, others were manual mountable and others can't be mountable, so I have thought that I could solve my trouble in some manner, I have noticed that in "fstab" file in "etc" folder partitions had different options, so I have thought that editing fstab only, without editing other things, I could solve my trouble, but I'm not sure of that, so to avoid to make damages I ask for confirmation.

In the KDE desktop enivironment, you can either comment-out the fstab lines of the partitions that you want to be "hidden" (by putting a "#" sign at the beginning of their lines), or you can completely remove the fstab lines of those same partitions. Either way, then those partitions will not be automounted and will not appear as "mountable" to the users (even if, for instance, they install the "KwikDisk" mounting tool in their panel).

I don't know how automounting works in GNOME, but I suspect that, by default, GNOME might either automount every partition that it sees or automatically make every partition that it sees mountable to users.

[Tixy]

I don't know how automounting works in GNOME, but I suspect that, by default, GNOME might either automount every partition that it sees or automatically make every partition that it sees mountable to users.

In the latest Squeeze, partitions on internal drives don't seem to auto-mount. Their Labels are listed in Nautilus and if you click on them, it asks for the root password then mounts them.

[Alex_80]

Thanks, I'll try to edit fstab for change mount options and then I will report results.

[jjmac]

Howdy Alex_80,

Easy enough as a simple /etc/fstab edit.

To prevent a partition from mounting automatically at boot, add the option 'noauto' to the list of options for the partition in /etc/fstab. Such as ...

/dev/hda14 /mnt/knoppix4.0 ext2 noauto,users,noatime,exec,errors=remount-ro 0 2

It doesn't really matter where in the list the 'noauto' option is placed. Fuller info can also be found in the 'man' pages (]$ man mount and ]$ man fstab).

If the partition isn't listed in /etc/fstab you will have to be bothered with a more elaborate 'mounting' procedure as root, rather than the more simple ...

]$ mount /mnt/knoppix4.0

that would only be required for the above partition.

As for having 'hidden' partitions ... that is a different thing, effected using the 'fdisk' or 'cfdisk' programs. It can be useful when dealing with M$ installs, but then, no one really does that any more really (grin).


jm

[Alex_80]

In fstab file I have added:

Code: Select all

/dev/sdb5 /media/sdb5 ext3 defaults 0 0

but it doesn't work, "mount point /media/sdb5 doesn't available" or similar message is showed.

I have try also with this:

Code: Select all

/dev/sdb5 /mnt/sdb5 ext3 defaults 0 0

but result is the same.

I have checked with GParted that sdb5 partition is really correct.

How I can solve the trouble?

[ComputerBob]

In fstab file I have added:

Code: Select all

/dev/sdb5 /media/sdb5 ext3 defaults 0 0

but it doesn't work, "mount point /media/sdb5 doesn't available" or similar message is showed.

I have try also with this:

Code: Select all

/dev/sdb5 /mnt/sdb5 ext3 defaults 0 0

but result is the same.

I have checked with GParted that sdb5 partition is really correct.

How I can solve the trouble?

Does a folder exist at /media/sdb5 or /mnt/sdb5? If not, you have to create a folder in one of those places before you can mount it.

[Alex_80]

No, I don't create a folder, now I create the sdb5 folder in /mnt/ and it works.
Thanks.

What are differences between media and mnt mount point?

[Absent Minded]

No, I don't create a folder, now I create the sdb5 folder in /mnt/ and it works.
Thanks.

What are differences between media and mnt mount point?

The /media directory is "normally" use to mount removable media such as CD-ROMs and USB devices. The /mnt directory is generally (in Debian) used to mount internal (non-removable) hard drive partitions and NFS shares.

[Alex_80]

Is this only a standard or there are real differences?

[Absent Minded]

There is no "real" differences. That is just the typical recommendations.

Edit: Many other distributions do not use a /media directory.

[Alex_80]

So in theory can I mount a partition everywhere?
For example in theory can I mount sdb5 partition in /My folder/Animals/Cats?

[nadir]

yes, but not only in theory. also in real.

i use either /media/what_i_choose_as_name or somewhere in my home-folder (usually there i call it Data)

[Alex_80]

Also out of media or mnt folder, in every subfolder of root folder?

[nadir]

yes.
as far i know (as i usually do it like described i ain't got much experience doing it different, but i did)

[Alex_80]

Thanks.

What are the differences between to set authorizations (read only, read write, ...) from fstab file, /mnt/sdb5 folder and partition (labeled in my case "10 GB Volume") in Computer?

[Alex_80]

What is priority between authorization of "10 GB Volume", sdb5, fstab?

[jjmac]

Howdy,


Alex_80 wrote:

>>
What are the differences between to set authorizations (read only, read write, ...) from fstab file, /mnt/sdb5 folder and partition (labeled in my case "10 GB Volume") in Computer?
>>

When you set the permissions directly to a mounted filesystem, as that is effectively what a mounted partition is ... your setting them in that filesystem.

This will over-ride whatever the permissions are for that mount point (ie; directory) in its' filesystem. The directory point will revert when the partition is unmounted.

When set in /etc/fstab, by that i think you mean passing options such as 'users' etc ... your just fine tuning the above. Even by setting allowable access to 'users', it will need that also to be the case in the mounted filesystem. But you could 'deny' that access via /etc/fstab though, even if allowed in the mounted filesystem. Effectively over-rideing that filesystem. But then, by mounting the filesystem somewhere else, you could over-ride its' other mount points accessibility.

That is not as complex as it might sound either . But do, do some simple experiments with that just, to verify. It's been a while since i last had to do anything along those lines. And you wont do any harm in the process.

]# chmod 755 /mnt/some_dir
]# chown <name> /mnt/some_dir
]# chgrp <name> /mnt/some_dir

Using the above programs on a mounted partition will effect the changes needed to verify what i stated above. And are easily reversible.

Note:
-------
group member ships are not duplex in nature. That is, being the member of a group ... such as 'www_data' doesn't mean that 'www_date' is also a member of your user group.


jm