Arch Linux

axion419

Member

Registered: 2007-04-12

Posts: 185

Options When it comes to mounting external harddrive

I have anew external USB HD.  I can make it auto mount if I stick in in Fstab, but I dont want to run the drive all day, when I will only play music from it, and backup files. My first issue was is it ok to shut off a mounted external drive when not in use, then fire it back up when I need it? 

If not I figured I can just use pmount, it mounts /dev/sdc1 to /media/backup . I have a folder named ~/backup that I can then sym link to it.  Is their a easy way to make a script to pmount /dev/sdc1 backup and then pumount /dev/sdc1 ?  I have googled around, and cant find anything, I want something I can stick in openbox and use as a pipemenu.  I know a little bit of python and ruby, but not enough to hack a script like that together.  It would be great if the script would somehow indicate if the drive was mounted or unmounted.  If this should belong in the programming or desktop enviroments sub-forum sorry.  If you can shut off a automounted drive then I dont need the script   Sorry for multiple questions in one post, thanks everyone.

Last edited by axion419 (2008-11-21 03:58:49)

ozar

Member

From: USA

Registered: 2005-02-18

Posts: 1,686

Re: Options When it comes to mounting external harddrive

Mine stays plugged in all the time, but I keep it turned off at the on/off switch until I need it.  Once it's turned on, it is automatically detected and then mounted.  I use it as needed, then unmount it (right-click desktop icon for the option) before turning it back off.

Is that anything like what you are wanting to do?

Last edited by ozar (2008-11-21 04:22:31)

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oz

Dheart

Member

From: Sofia, Bulgaria

Registered: 2006-10-26

Posts: 956

Re: Options When it comes to mounting external harddrive

Mine is on at all times, but after half an hour of idling it turns itself off.

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axion419

Member

Registered: 2007-04-12

Posts: 185

Re: Options When it comes to mounting external harddrive

If I unmount my drive, it is not remounted when I turn it back on. I have to manually mount it. To get my keyboard and mouse to work with the latest X update I had to add this to my xorg.conf

Section "ServerFlags"
    Option      "AutoAddDevices"         "false"
EndSection

I wonder if that is the issue.

SiC

Member

From: Liverpool, England

Registered: 2008-01-10

Posts: 430

Re: Options When it comes to mounting external harddrive

Just out of curiousity, why don't you want the drive to run all day?  I keep mine running constantly, and only turn it off when I turn off my desktop, and that is infrequently.

sessy

Member

Registered: 2006-01-20

Posts: 104

Re: Options When it comes to mounting external harddrive

axion419: this article will help to set up a fixed mount moint: http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Usi … o_a_device