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Asked: 2024-09-25T04:15:46+05:30 In:

What steps can I follow to mount a hard drive in read-only mode using the terminal on Ubuntu?

I’m trying to figure out how to mount a hard drive in read-only mode using the terminal on my Ubuntu machine, but I’m not entirely sure how to go about it. I’ve done some digging online, and I found a bunch of scattered information, but nothing that seems to put all the pieces together in a clear way.

So here’s the situation: I’ve got this external hard drive that I want to access without the risk of accidentally modifying any of the files on it. You know how sometimes you just want to browse or copy some files without the chance of messing anything up? That’s where I’m at right now. I want to make sure that what I do with this drive stays safe, especially since it contains some important data.

I know that mounting in read-only mode can help prevent any accidental changes, but I’m not the most experienced with terminal commands, and I’m worried I might mess something up if I don’t do it right. I guess I’m looking for a step-by-step rundown of what commands I need to use.

If anyone could break it down for me, that would be awesome! Like, should I check the drive’s location first? And what about the exact command to use to mount it as read-only? I’ve heard of `mount` and `umount`, but then there are all these options like `ro` and `rw`, and I just need to know how to put it all together.

And just to be extra sure, what’s the best way to unmount it afterward? I definitely don’t want to be stuck with a drive that I can’t eject because I did something wrong. Any tips on that would also be greatly appreciated!

So, if anyone’s got experience doing this, could you share the steps you take? I’d really love to learn how to get this done safely and avoid any future headaches with my data. Thanks a ton in advance!

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    2 Answers

    1. To mount your external hard drive in read-only mode on your Ubuntu machine, you first need to identify the device name of the drive. You can do this by running the command lsblk in the terminal, which will display a list of all block devices currently connected to your system. Look for your external hard drive in the output list, usually denoted as something like /dev/sdb1 (the exact name may vary). Once you have identified the device, you can create a mount point (a directory where the drive’s contents will be accessible) using the command sudo mkdir /mnt/mydrive. Replace mydrive with a name of your choice.

      Now, you can mount the drive in read-only mode by executing the command sudo mount -o ro /dev/sdb1 /mnt/mydrive. Make sure to replace /dev/sdb1 with the actual device name you found earlier. The -o ro option specifies that the drive should be mounted as read-only. Once you are done accessing the files and you want to unmount the drive, use the command sudo umount /mnt/mydrive. This safely detaches the drive from your system, allowing for a clean and risk-free ejection. Always ensure your unmount operation completes successfully before physically disconnecting the drive to avoid any potential data corruption.



    2. Mounting a Hard Drive in Read-Only Mode on Ubuntu

      Mounting a Hard Drive in Read-Only Mode

      If you want to mount your external hard drive in read-only mode on your Ubuntu machine, follow these steps:

      1. Find the Drive’s Location

      First, you need to check where your external hard drive is located. You can do this by running the following command in the terminal:

      lsblk

      This will list all the block devices attached to your system. Look for your external hard drive, which will typically be listed as something like /dev/sdb1 (the name can vary). Make a note of this location.

      2. Create a Mount Point

      Next, you need to create a directory where you will mount the drive. You can create a directory in /mnt like this:

      sudo mkdir /mnt/mydrive

      Feel free to change “mydrive” to whatever name you prefer.

      3. Mount the Drive in Read-Only Mode

      Now you can mount the drive in read-only mode using this command:

      sudo mount -o ro /dev/sdX1 /mnt/mydrive

      Replace /dev/sdX1 with the correct path to your drive (like /dev/sdb1) and /mnt/mydrive with the mount point you created.

      4. Access Your Drive

      Your drive should now be mounted in read-only mode! You can access it by navigating to the mount point:

      cd /mnt/mydrive

      5. Unmounting the Drive

      When you’re done and want to safely unmount the drive, just run:

      sudo umount /mnt/mydrive

      This will free up the drive, and you’ll be able to safely disconnect it.

      Final Tips

      • Always double-check the path of the drive before running mount commands.
      • Using ro (read-only) is great for protecting your data, but remember that you won’t be able to write or modify anything on that drive.
      • Make sure you’ve closed any files or directories that may be open in that drive before trying to unmount it.

      And that’s it! You should be able to mount and unmount your external drive safely now. Good luck!


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