mount Command
Intermediate Disk & Storage man(1)Mount a filesystem
👁 9 views
📅 Updated: Mar 15, 2026
SYNTAX
mount [OPTION]... DEVICE DIRECTORY
What Does mount Do?
mount attaches a filesystem to the directory tree. It makes a storage device (disk, partition, USB drive, network share) accessible at a specified directory (mount point).
mount is essential for accessing additional disks, USB drives, network filesystems (NFS, CIFS/SMB), disk images, and remote storage. Without arguments, it shows all currently mounted filesystems.
Permanent mount configuration is stored in /etc/fstab, which is read at boot time. Manual mount commands are temporary and lost on reboot.
mount is essential for accessing additional disks, USB drives, network filesystems (NFS, CIFS/SMB), disk images, and remote storage. Without arguments, it shows all currently mounted filesystems.
Permanent mount configuration is stored in /etc/fstab, which is read at boot time. Manual mount commands are temporary and lost on reboot.
Options & Flags
| Option | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -t | Specify filesystem type | mount -t nfs server:/share /mnt/nfs |
| -o | Mount options (ro, rw, noexec, etc.) | mount -o ro /dev/sdb1 /mnt/backup |
| -a | Mount all filesystems in /etc/fstab | mount -a |
| --bind | Bind mount (mount directory to another location) | mount --bind /data /mnt/data |
| -l | Show labels | mount -l |
| -r | Mount read-only | mount -r /dev/sdb1 /mnt/ |
Practical Examples
#1 Mount a partition
Mounts the partition at /mnt/data.
$ sudo mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt/data#2 Mount USB drive
Mounts a USB flash drive.
$ sudo mount /dev/sdc1 /mnt/usb#3 Mount read-only
Mounts the partition read-only for safety.
$ sudo mount -o ro /dev/sdb1 /mnt/backup#4 Mount NFS share
Mounts a remote NFS filesystem.
$ sudo mount -t nfs server:/export/data /mnt/nfs#5 Show mounted filesystems
Lists all currently mounted filesystems in readable format.
$ mount | column -t#6 Mount ISO image
Mounts an ISO file as a filesystem.
$ sudo mount -o loop image.iso /mnt/isoTips & Best Practices
Use /etc/fstab for permanent mounts: mount commands are temporary. Add entries to /etc/fstab for mounts that persist across reboots.
Unmount before removing: Always unmount (umount /mnt/point) before removing a USB drive or disconnecting storage to prevent data loss.
findmnt is better for listing: findmnt shows mounted filesystems in a cleaner tree format than mount. Use findmnt -t ext4 to filter by type.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I mount a USB drive?
sudo mount /dev/sdX1 /mnt/usb (replace sdX1 with the actual device — check with lsblk).
How do I make a mount permanent?
Add an entry to /etc/fstab: /dev/sdb1 /mnt/data ext4 defaults 0 2. Use UUID instead of /dev/sdX for reliability.
How do I unmount a filesystem?
sudo umount /mnt/point. If busy, use umount -l (lazy unmount) or fuser -km /mnt/point to kill processes.
Related Commands
More Disk & Storage Commands
Master Linux with Professional eBooks
Curated IT eBooks covering Linux, DevOps, Cloud, and more
Browse Books →