Mount a device to a directory
Mount a block device using filesystem auto-detection.
bashANYmountdevice
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sudo mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt/dataNotes
Mount a block device using filesystem auto-detection.
Linux Filesystems and Mounts Cheat Sheet
Mount, unmount, fstab, filesystem check, and repair workflows on Linux.
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Mount and Unmount
Mount devices, images, and network filesystems.
bash
sudo mount -o ro /dev/sdb1 /mnt/dataNotes
Useful for safe inspection or recovery work.
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sudo mount UUID=1234-ABCD /mnt/dataNotes
Use a stable identifier instead of a device name.
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sudo mount --bind /srv/data /mnt/dataNotes
Expose the same directory tree at another path.
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sudo mount -o remount,rw /mnt/dataNotes
Change mount options for a mounted filesystem.
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sudo umount /mnt/dataNotes
Detach a mounted filesystem.
Lazy unmount a busy mount
Detach the mount now and clean up after current users release it.
bashANYumountlazybusy
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sudo umount -l /mnt/dataNotes
Detach the mount now and clean up after current users release it.
Show processes using a mountpoint
Helpful before an unmount that fails with target is busy.
bashANYfuserumountbusy
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sudo fuser -vm /mnt/dataNotes
Helpful before an unmount that fails with target is busy.
List open files under a mount
Find which processes still hold files on a mounted filesystem.
bashANYlsofmountbusy
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sudo lsof +f -- /mnt/dataNotes
Find which processes still hold files on a mounted filesystem.
Inspect mount options for a path
Show which filesystem backs a path and how it is mounted.
bashANYfindmntmountoptions
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findmnt -T /mnt/dataNotes
Show which filesystem backs a path and how it is mounted.
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sudo mount -o loop image.iso /mnt/isoNotes
Loop-mount a disk image file.
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sudo losetup -fP disk.imgNotes
Map a disk image file to the next free loop device.
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losetup -aNotes
Show loop device mappings.
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sudo losetup -d /dev/loop0Notes
Disconnect a loop device from its image file.
fstab and Boot-Time Mounts
Persistent mount configuration and boot-time validation.
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sudoedit /etc/fstabNotes
Configure persistent mounts, swap, and mount options.
Show UUIDs for fstab entries
Collect UUIDs and labels for robust /etc/fstab entries.
bashANYfstabuuidlsblk
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lsblk -fNotes
Collect UUIDs and labels for robust /etc/fstab entries.
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sudo mount -aNotes
Validate /etc/fstab without rebooting.
Reload systemd units after fstab change
Useful when fstab is consumed into mount units.
bashANYsystemdfstabreload
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sudo systemctl daemon-reloadNotes
Useful when fstab is consumed into mount units.
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systemctl list-units --type=mountNotes
See active mount units managed by systemd.
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findmnt --fstabNotes
Render how the system interprets /etc/fstab.
Verify fstab syntax indirectly
Catch syntax and boot-time mounting issues early.
bashANYsystemd-analyzefstabverify
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sudo systemd-analyze verify /etc/fstabNotes
Catch syntax and boot-time mounting issues early.
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systemctl status mnt-data.mountNotes
Inspect mount unit logs and status from systemd.
Search logs for mount failures
Review boot logs when a filesystem did not mount.
bashANYjournalctlmountlogs
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journalctl -b | grep -i mountNotes
Review boot logs when a filesystem did not mount.
Build a systemd unit name for a path
Convert a path into the corresponding systemd mount unit name.
bashANYsystemd-escapemount-unit
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systemd-escape -p --suffix=mount /mnt/dataNotes
Convert a path into the corresponding systemd mount unit name.
Check and Repair
Filesystem consistency checks and repair utilities.
Run fsck on an unmounted filesystem
Dispatch to the correct fsck helper based on filesystem type.
bashANYfsckrepairfilesystem
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sudo fsck /dev/sdb1Notes
Dispatch to the correct fsck helper based on filesystem type.
Force an ext filesystem check
Run a full ext filesystem check even if marked clean.
bashANYe2fsckext4repair
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sudo e2fsck -f /dev/sdb1Notes
Run a full ext filesystem check even if marked clean.
Auto-fix ext filesystem issues
Automatically answer yes to filesystem repairs.
bashANYe2fsckrepairauto
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sudo e2fsck -y /dev/sdb1Notes
Automatically answer yes to filesystem repairs.
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sudo xfs_repair /dev/sdb1Notes
XFS consistency repair tool.
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sudo badblocks -sv /dev/sdbNotes
Perform a read-only bad-block scan.
Destructive bad-blocks write test
Use only on disks you can erase completely.
bashANYbadblocksdiskdestructive
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sudo badblocks -wsv /dev/sdbNotes
Use only on disks you can erase completely.
Show SMART overall health
Quick disk health check for SMART-capable devices.
bashANYsmartctlsmarthealth
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sudo smartctl -H /dev/sdaNotes
Quick disk health check for SMART-capable devices.
Show full SMART data
Inspect temperatures, reallocated sectors, and error logs.
bashANYsmartctlsmartdisk
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sudo smartctl -a /dev/sdaNotes
Inspect temperatures, reallocated sectors, and error logs.
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sudo smartctl -t short /dev/sdaNotes
Schedule a quick device self-test.
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sudo smartctl -l selftest /dev/sdaNotes
Review completed SMART test results.
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sudo nvme listNotes
Inventory NVMe namespaces and firmware details.
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sudo nvme smart-log /dev/nvme0Notes
Inspect NVMe wear, temperature, and media error counters.
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