Possible to mount a flash drive in Linux/Unix?

Hello all-

We are trying something out and wanted to share but also ask a couple o'questions. We are working to mount a flash drive to Linux and found the below:

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/...1256701,00.asp

And we are working to test it out with our setup.

Has anyone else gotten a flashdrive, with a Windows format, to be successfully mounted on a Linux box - and can it be read?

I was thinking that if you have Samba on the machine it would work otherwise, if you just have the driver and the setup per the article, the drive would be recognized, but could not be read - am I right or wrong on this?

Thanks in advance!

I think flash runs its own file system, just like CD's use their own (i've seen it called alot of different things). I run Fedora Core 3 and it automatically detects the USB drive and mounts it under /media/usbdisk. Tried manually mounting it once but it was a major pain...

http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/usb-guide.xml

HTH (hope that helps!)

When you say mount, are you speaking at the command line or within some X windows environment? Every recent distro I've tested (fedora, slackware, ubuntu, vector linux) all automatically mount flash drives when sitting in an Xwindows environment.

The partition type should be automatically seen so there is no issue reading files that were dumped on them from windows and vice versa. If you run into trouble when mounting, you'll have to specify the file system. Also be sure to change the perms so that you can write to the drive. Do this using the umask switch ( -o umask=002 should do it).

On Fedora, at the CLI, this is what I do to mount it.

Code:

---

mount /dev/sda1 [options] /media/USBdisk

---

before you get to this point, you'll see a bunch of SCSI device info wiz by.

When you're finished, simply do this:

Code:

---

umount /media/USBdisk

---

Done.

And finally, if you want to make this as easy as "mount /media/USBdisk"
Simply type this at the CLI:

Code:

---

echo "/dev/sda1 /media/USBdisk vfat user,umask=002 0 0" >> /etc/fstab

---

then just do:

Code:

---

mount /media/usbdisk

---

and you can read/write at will.

the only problem i could see you having, would be if the usb drive was formatted as ntfs and your linkux kernel did not have the ntfs file system built in.

Othen than that it shoudl work as th13 said.

Trevoke - thanks - that provided some more information for us!

TH13 - from the command line - thanks much for the detail that helps - we will try out this pm.

kr5kernel - that's what I was concerned about - the mismatch in the formats of the flash drive versus our linux machine - I am checking to see if SAMBA will bridge that gap - however TH13 also suggests that it should be no problem - so we will try it out and see what happens.

Also - related to this topic but more procedural towards security in general. We are on an audit right now where the SA group went in over the weekend to "prepare for our coming" - so the SA group, among other preparatory activities, changed all their passwords - or so they thought, patched their servers, and locked down the shares - or so they thought. The passwords - we found an easily guessable password for the MS-SQL admin account; the shares - they locked down all the shares, except an FTP share that yielded a very sensitive and potentially damaging file - which we want to bring over to Linux for forensic analysis. They spent all weekend busting ahss and doing all this work and it took us about 2 hours to expose their weaknesses and a very high potential of risk to the organization.

The moral? Well, in using the "securing the house" analogy used time and time again, make sure that if you lock the doors, windows, and activate the security system, do not leave the key under the welcome mat or leave the security code taped to the door.

I'd do the echo command I gave you. This way you can easily and quickly mount and unmount USB flash drives.

NTFS should not be a problem for a recent distro unless you went through and selectively removed kernel modules for FS support.

Anyway, the command I gave you werkz on the distros I listed. Notice I specified VFAT in the command. Anyway, I swap filez between XP, 2000, 2003 and linuxen all the live long day. Never had an issue using the CLI syntax above.

;)

--TH13

Quote:

---

I'd do the echo command I gave you. This way you can easily and quickly mount and unmount USB flash drives.

NTFS should not be a problem for a recent distro unless you went through and selectively removed kernel modules for FS support.

Anyway, the command I gave you werkz on the distros I listed. Notice I specified VFAT in the command. Anyway, I swap filez between XP, 2000, 2003 and linuxen all the live long day. Never had an issue using the CLI syntax above.

---

Cool. The kernel modules should not be an issue, as I know we selected those mods for FS support. I want to try this out asap as we found some material we need to analyze and provide our and the client's management with an update post-haste with what we have. Thanks again!

The writing to NTFS in the kernel is still very experimental and not to be used. The only way to maybe bridge that would be to mount the NTFS flash drive as a NFS somewhere to let you read it... But NTFS is not cool anyway, it's such a dirty filesystem. Fat32 is, believe it or not, better, although more limited as far as how big it can be (partitions are not your enemy!).

Quote:

---

Originally posted here by Trevoke
The writing to NTFS in the kernel is still very experimental and not to be used. The only way to maybe bridge that would be to mount the NTFS flash drive as a NFS somewhere to let you read it... But NTFS is not cool anyway, it's such a dirty filesystem. Fat32 is, believe it or not, better, although more limited as far as how big it can be (partitions are not your enemy!).

---

Trevoke- Do you actually belief the stuff that you put in some of your messages or are you just trying to spread wrong information on purpose???

Please explain why it is that you think fat32 is a better filesystem than NTFS. What makes NTFS dirty? I think you have had your head up a penguins ass for far to long..

FAT32 is a cleaner file system compared to NTFS? I can't wait to hear the explanation on that one.

Simpler, yes, cleaner...<waiting>

Didn't know NTFS was so hard to read from another OS considering I do it almost every day. Laptop has XP and SUSE dual booting. I've yet to have a problem.

Alright, considering the fact that gore just completely butt-****ed me, I obviously need to explain it. *sigh* It's hard enough getting up to 50 positive antipoints without gore just showing up and ass-ramming me. I think this is the third time he's done this to me at this point...
Also, you waste of oxygen, NTFS is not hard to read from. It's hard to WRITE TO. I don't give a flying crap if I can read it, because I want to *fix it*.

NTFS is faster and will experience less performance degradation from fragmenting. This is true.
NTFS is also a hell of a lot dirtier. It will leave pieces of data everywhere on the ****ing drive, making it really friggin' hard to truly erase something should you want to do that. This is especially, but not only, true when file system indexing is enabled.
NTFS supports permissions.

NTFS support for read-only exists in the Linux kernel. NTFS support for write exists in the Linux kernel, but you are only allowed to overwrite a file (so, same name) with a file of the exact same size.

FAT32 is a slower, older filesystem which is limited in size and in use, since it doesn't have support for permissions, and it caps at some filesystem size (which is to me ridiculously high, but I never bought into the hype of a hard drive above 80gig). FAT32 will also suffer from more obvious performance loss when fragmentation occurs, which, for both filesystems, is one of those facts of life.
FAT32 has good read/write support in the Linux kernel, and mounting/unmounting of drives is painless.


Now, I have never considered Windows to be an OS that people will use on servers, but I think gore does, which is probably why he's so harsh and keen on permissions. On a workstation/desktop, you don't need the permissions. They're more of a hindrance (no, really. I spent 7 hours just yesterday figuring out a problem which turned out, once I finally got back to a Windows GUI, to be due to "Everyone" not having full control and three oddly-named users (numbers and dashes) having some other sets of rights, one of which was Full Control.), and if you have an anti-virus and a firewall, and you're not stupid, you're safe.

Fragmentation happens on both, and excessive fragmentation on the NTFS system will eventually cause a user to meet a "NTLDR not found" error on system boot up (I swear. It's written in a Microsoft tech note that I read yesterday). Also, I think you need 25% free space to defragment an NTFS partition, and I don't think you need that much for FAT32 (but I don't know for sure).

So what sells FAT32 for me? Honestly, based solely on the fact that right now, I can't write to NTFS, that's enough of a problem to give the other FS the winning hand. As soon as NTFS write support is enabled, however, you'll see me sing a different song...

Gentlemen, please!

What have we descended to?.............the mere fact that you may think someone technically incorrect IS NOT grounds to give them negative points...............use your fingers and post him wrong?

Thank you :)

Well I have to disagree with this

Quote:

---

On a workstation/desktop, you don't need the permissions.

---

We have workstations that need permissions due to the nature of the users job. We do not anyone but that specific user to have access to anything on that machine.

Removing the everyone group is really not a problem if you apply the proper permissions to replace, such as administrator, system, domain admins, user etc

Also by removing the everyone account ...you can slow up worms from reading, accessing data on these machines..as they will use the infected user\machines rights to propagate....or the everyone group.

Also some machines have shared colour printers that we do not want all users to have access to....so we use permissions for those

If the machine is properly locked down...they cannot access...and it will show up in the security log.

By default MS will add certain groups to workstations and create certain shares.....I tend to Tweak as needed.

I also have some shares on my machine that I do not want users writting to, or deleting contents. They are for a specific group... to read only... which requires that I set permissions on what they can and cannot do in these shares.

Not sure what kinda enviroment you work in...but user permissions on workstations are used here and at a coupla of my other sites.

Maybe I am missing something? :confused:

MLF

Edit> this article seems appropriate

http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895...05dtx1k0000599

also the NSA had a white paper out years ago about locking down servers and WS by removing the everyone group......not sure if they have an updated one

Quote:

---

Originally posted here by nihil
Gentlemen, please!

What have we descended to?.............the mere fact that you may think someone technically incorrect IS NOT grounds to give them negative points...............use your fingers and post him wrong?

Thank you :)

---

Me and two other people waited for his little reply. He never did. I neg him, and boom, he runs in here like I smacjed his ass with an ore. I should neg him again for bitching about me negging him. Anyone would have done it if I had made a thread about it, and when I joined here it was suicide.

Mohaughn, Hogfly, and me replied asking WTF he was talking about. And I might point out, HE DIDN'T EVEN ANSWER THE QUESTION. He posted what appears to be a copy and paste of some "File systems in Windows for drooling morons" and posted it here.

So again, HOW IN THE HELL is Fat32 better than NTFS? You post bullshit and it's damn near never right. And after I post this I'm disecting your post.

Quote:

---

Originally posted here by Trevoke
Alright, considering the fact that gore just completely butt-****ed me, I obviously need to explain it.

---

Don't worry, you have more coming, I'm not putting up with another AP bitch fest because you don't know what you're talking about cowboy.

Quote:

---

*sigh* It's hard enough getting up to 50 positive antipoints without gore just showing up and ass-ramming me. I think this is the third time he's done this to me at this point...

---

WTF are you phishing for pitty or trying to get me in trouble? Are you stupid?

Quote:

---

Also, you waste of oxygen, NTFS is not hard to read from. It's hard to WRITE TO. I don't give a flying crap if I can read it, because I want to *fix it*.

---

I'm a waste of oxygen?

Quote:

---

NTFS is faster and will experience less performance degradation from fragmenting. This is true.
NTFS is also a hell of a lot dirtier. It will leave pieces of data everywhere on the ****ing drive, making it really friggin' hard to truly erase something should you want to do that. This is especially, but not only, true when file system indexing is enabled.
NTFS supports permissions.

---

So why is Fat32 better as you said?

Quote:

---

NTFS support for read-only exists in the Linux kernel. NTFS support for write exists in the Linux kernel, but you are only allowed to overwrite a file (so, same name) with a file of the exact same size.

---

..... Wow Fat32 is way better now....

Quote:

---

FAT32 is a slower, older filesystem which is limited in size and in use, since it doesn't have support for permissions, and it caps at some filesystem size (which is to me ridiculously high, but I never bought into the hype of a hard drive above 80gig). FAT32 will also suffer from more obvious performance loss when fragmentation occurs, which, for both filesystems, is one of those facts of life.
FAT32 has good read/write support in the Linux kernel, and mounting/unmounting of drives is painless.

---

Sooooo....?

Quote:

---

Now, I have never considered Windows to be an OS that people will use on servers, but I think gore does, which is probably why he's so harsh and keen on permissions.

---

I so can't wait for Catch to see this. And this next part is in caps so it stands out:


ATTENTION AO, I'M BEING SINGLED OUT FOR STANDING UP FOR WINDOWS AGAIN. REMEMBER THIS THE NEXT TIME I CRACK A JOKE AND YOU, OR THAT SLUT SDK, START WHINING, THINK OF THIS THREAD RIGHT HERE DICKS.

Quote:

---

On a workstation/desktop, you don't need the permissions.

---

You're right how would a virus spread if it had to have permission??? Poor virii writers having to put in extra effort, awwwwwww.

Quote:

---

They're more of a hindrance (no, really. I spent 7 hours just yesterday figuring out a problem which turned out, once I finally got back to a Windows GUI, to be due to "Everyone" not having full control and three oddly-named users (numbers and dashes) having some other sets of rights, one of which was Full Control.),

---

How many hours? You wear velcro on your shoes don't you?

Quote:

---

and if you have an anti-virus and a firewall, and you're not stupid, you're safe.

---

Yup, no way in hell some deviant could break in when you have THAT in the way...

Quote:

---

Fragmentation happens on both, and excessive fragmentation on the NTFS system will eventually cause a user to meet a "NTLDR not found" error on system boot up (I swear. It's written in a Microsoft tech note that I read yesterday).

---

=O REALLY???????

Quote:

---

Also, I think you need 25% free space to defragment an NTFS partition, and I don't think you need that much for FAT32 (but I don't know for sure).

---

As usual you're full of ****. NTFS = 15 % Even with less it runs fine.

Quote:

---

So what sells FAT32 for me?

---

A lighter and some crack?

Quote:

---

Honestly, based solely on the fact that right now, I can't write to NTFS, that's enough of a problem to give the other FS the winning hand. As soon as NTFS write support is enabled, however, you'll see me sing a different song...

---

So Clay Aiken, have you ever thought of using NFS or Samba? Use the network to override the problems of File System support by making all of them not matter?

Quote:

---

Originally posted here by mohaughn
Please explain why it is that you think fat32 is a better filesystem than NTFS. What makes NTFS dirty? I think you have had your head up a penguins ass for far to long..

---

It is my own belief, that everything is strong at something, and actually create for that thing, and weak or has a shortage in another aspect. I think, wec an't say FAT32 is better than NTFS or vise versa.

In a nut shell:

NTFS is cool when, folder and file level security is sought! Ideal for file sharing and other permissions.

FAT32: Is ideal for dual booting! require less space!

here is a link for full comparison!
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...arison&spell=1

My 0.02$ :)

Cheers

morganlefay : you are entirely right. Mea Culpa. My analysis of the filesystem should never have had the word "workstation" in it. This thread is based on two guys who want to make a Flash USB key work under Linux, and that is why FAT32 is better than NTFS. In a purely Windows environment, where no one has any desire to use Linux to solve a problem, then by all means, use NTFS. It's better, faster and stronger. But it sucks balls when you're using it around Linux. That's all of my point, and I have sinned by ignorance : I am used to writing on a Linux-users-only forum, where it's implied that it's "around Linux". Again, in a Windows-only context, NTFS rocks.

Gore : I don't have a subscription to this thread. I usually rely on the "Active threads" on the AO homepage to show me what's active, hence why I didn't come back to this one : it doesn't show as active! I'm terribly sorry I made you wait so long for such an inadequate answer.

I can't tell whether you're sarcastic or not, so :

Quote:

---

=O REALLY???????

---

Yeah, really. Excessive fragmentation of the root directory can cause NTLDR to not be found while booting Windows.

Quote:

---

So Clay Aiken, have you ever thought of using NFS or Samba? Use the network to override the problems of File System support by making all of them not matter?

---

I'm gonna have to go look up who Clay Aiken is, but here's a sentence in my original post (unedited, although by looking at it I obviously made an error, it should say "write", not read!)

Quote:

---

The only way to maybe bridge that would be to mount the NTFS flash drive as a NFS somewhere to let you read it.

---

So, you see, I *did* think about it! :)

Velcro on my shoes? No, sandals don't have velcro. Sometimes my feet hurt for most of the day, but I realized recently it was because I'd put the sandals on the wrong feet! ololoomgroxxorz.
This is off-topic : The problem was originally NTLDR not found. The recovery console would not let me write to the root directory, though we could write to $systemroot$, which was odd. We tried several things, some went fast, like trying to reinstall a MBR and boot sector, some took a lot longer, like using the "automated repair utility" on the Win2k folder. For some reason, that utility took a pretty long time to complete, so that took a lot of time, after changing variables one by one and trying to get write access to the root directory. Finally, took the computer home, because at home, I actually have spare boxes I can use, installed Win2k on a spare hard drive, then looked at the hard drives from that working installation. Lo and behold, there were some users in there which had Full Permissions, while Everyone didn't. I successfully recopied NTLDR, NTDETECT.COM, ARCSETUP and ARCLOADER (the files that were missing, yes, the original install is on a SCSI drive), but now it's getting hung at the loading of the driver after agp440.sys. And yes, there is *also* a tech note for agp440.sys, and no, it did not solve the problem, either. If you happen to have a solution, I'll be quite happy to erect an altar in your honor.

And thank you for correcting me, I could not find anywhere if it was 25 or 15% needed. I'm also relieved to know that I was wrong, as 25% would truly have been major suckage.


[edit: Okay, found out who Clay Aiken is. I should be insulted, right? I can't care enough, sorry.]

[edit2 : Ooh jeez! I just found out why it didn't show as active, I must have posted enough to unlock the "configure front page" setting, and this forum was not displayed! Sooo sorry!]

Quote:

---

Originally posted here by Trevoke
morganlefay : you are entirely right. Mea Culpa. My analysis of the filesystem should never have had the word "workstation" in it. This thread is based on two guys who want to make a Flash USB key work under Linux, and that is why FAT32 is better than NTFS. In a purely Windows environment, where no one has any desire to use Linux to solve a problem, then by all means, use NTFS. It's better, faster and stronger. But it sucks balls when you're using it around Linux. That's all of my point, and I have sinned by ignorance : I am used to writing on a Linux-users-only forum, where it's implied that it's "around Linux". Again, in a Windows-only context, NTFS rocks.

---

So you're saying Useability is more important than security?

Quote:

---

Gore : I don't have a subscription to this thread. I usually rely on the "Active threads" on the AO homepage to show me what's active, hence why I didn't come back to this one : it doesn't show as active! I'm terribly sorry I made you wait so long for such an inadequate answer.

---

Click on post reply instead of the quick reply thing.

Quote:

---

I can't tell whether you're sarcastic or not, so :

---

I'm typing, I'm sarcastic.

Quote:

---

Yeah, really. Excessive fragmentation of the root directory can cause NTLDR to not be found while booting Windows.

---

Yea, the "shock" face was meant to be a smart ass comment without saying anything.

Quote:

---

I'm gonna have to go look up who Clay Aiken is, but here's a sentence in my original post (unedited, although by looking at it I obviously made an error, it should say "write", not read!)

---

I do what I can.

Quote:

---

So, you see, I *did* think about it! :)

---

Scarey.

Quote:

---

Velcro on my shoes? No, sandals don't have velcro. Sometimes my feet hurt for most of the day, but I realized recently it was because I'd put the sandals on the wrong feet! ololoomgroxxorz.

---

You wear dyed shirts huh?

Quote:

---

Finally, took the computer home, because at home, I actually have spare boxes I can use, installed Win2k on a spare hard drive, then looked at the hard drives from that working installation. Lo and behold, there were some users in there which had Full Permissions, while Everyone didn't.

---

Wow so some did but everyone didn't ?

Quote:

---

I successfully recopied NTLDR, NTDETECT.COM, ARCSETUP and ARCLOADER (the files that were missing, yes, the original install is on a SCSI drive), but now it's getting hung at the loading of the driver after agp440.sys. And yes, there is *also* a tech note for agp440.sys, and no, it did not solve the problem, either. If you happen to have a solution, I'll be quite happy to erect an altar in your honor.

---

You get an urge / erection from me and I'm leaving.

Quote:

---

And thank you for correcting me,

---

Don't mention it. It's easy.

Quote:

---

I could not find anywhere if it was 25 or 15% needed. I'm also relieved to know that I was wrong, as 25% would truly have been major suckage.

---

The one machine I have with XP on it which dual boots SUSE on my laptop has less HD space than the other and has lots of games so I know because I've seen the message.

Quote:

---

[edit: Okay, found out who Clay Aiken is. I should be insulted, right? I can't care enough, sorry.]

---

I don't know if you should but I don't really care if you are.

Quote:

---

[edit2 : Ooh jeez! I just found out why it didn't show as active, I must have posted enough to unlock the "configure front page" setting, and this forum was not displayed! Sooo sorry!]

---

Dun Dun Dun another one finds out the truth. Dun Dun Dun.... I'm tired as ****.

Quote:

---

You wear dyed shirts huh?

---

No, I get my hands dirty when I try to dye them. Ugugugugu *drool*

Gore : in the context of this thread, hell yes, usability is more important than security. In a *working* environment, you've got all the aces, champ.


[edit : Yes. Users named 1-006453-83-41-91 and similar (there were three like this) had permissions. The owner of the computer had no idea what those users were. I have no idea what they were. I removed it. I gave "Everyone" Full Control again.]

Quote:

---

You get an urge / erection from me and I'm leaving

---

I've got a hardon for you.


Seriously though, as has been said already, the best filesystem for a situation specifically depends on the situation. NTFS is far more secure, and fancier, whatever. But NTFS is not supported across the board. If you can use NTFS I would just for the file system level security it offers. But, in some cases, such as dual boot. For things I am currently working on, I usually throw a fat32 drive in between just for shits and giggles, and keep anything sensitive inside an encrypted archive that both *nix and Windows can access.


Trevoke: Don't get into a pissing match with gore. You are no match for him.

And... Trevoke, your location says US, and you didn't know who that fairy Clay Aiken was? Have you no contact with pop culture?

Quote:

---

1-006453-83-41-91

---

AFAIK

These accounts are the sid IDs from an account that was either part of a network\domain that is no longer available....or accounts that have been deleted\disabled.


Usually you can use the administrator password and access to take ownership of the files...and reset the permissions.

MLF

Quote:

---

Originally posted here by d0pp
Trevoke: Don't get into a pissing match with gore. You are no match for him.

---

Respectfully, I don't agree with you on that. With argument everything gets better and clearer. I would argue sime points with gore forever, just to reach one point "Conviction", as I know he is better than me in that field. He would convince me that i'm wrong, or I would convince him that i'm right! This is how things should go!

I wouldn't say, no I can't involve in a debate with gore, just becasue I believe he is better than me. This is more likely arise in me the love of debating with him.

I accept advice and don't respect people who know that 1+1=2 and don't know WHY?

Play the "Devile's Advocate" :)

Cheers ;)

d0pp : I think pop culture involves watching TV, right? I don't particularly do that. My hobbies are limited to isshinryu karate and iaido :) I don't even go to bars.. And the people that I socialize with don't discuss American Idol or whatever Clay Aiken is from. I'm busy enough meditating and reading up on the Tao Te Ching and on that way of thinking without having to worry about such fickle things as who today's most effeminate singer is..

morganlefay : Thanks. You confirm what I thought, but I wasn't sure. When in doubt.. Clean it up. It's a simple fact that after giving "Everyone" Full Control I was able to write to the root directory of that drive again, so that was that. Still having issues with that agp440.sys thing and what's getting loaded after, though...

I'm not talking about disagreeing with gore. I've done it on many occasions. Don't get into a pissing match with him.

The only situation where usability should be more important than basic security is a standalone machine not connected to the internet. Otherwise, you're just asking for trouble.

Well, we're talking about connecting a USB flash drive to a machine. Why on earth do we need the Internet for that? :-)
I don't want to get into a pissing contest with him. I have better things to do with my health than to waste it getting mad at someone or trying to outdo some person who has much more experience than me in the world of computers..