This document discusses mounting and unmounting file systems in Linux. It explains that when a file system is mounted, the contents of the mount point directory are hidden and the original directory permissions remain. File systems can be mounted manually using the mount command or automatically at boot based on /etc/fstab configuration. File systems are unmounted using the umount command or automatically when shutting down the system. It also provides instructions for mounting floppy disks on /mnt/floppy and CD-ROMs on /mnt/cdrom.

1. R.D.SIVAKUMAR, M.Sc.,M.Phil.,M.Tech.,
Assistant Professor of Computer Science &
Assistant Professor and Head, Department of M.Com.(CA),
Ayya Nadar Janaki Ammal College,
Sivakasi – 626 124.
Mobile: 099440-42243
e-mail : sivamsccsit@gmail.com
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File Systems: mount and umount

2. File Systems: mount and umount
When you mount a file system, the original contents of the mount point directory are
hidden and unavailable until the file system is unmounted. However, the mount point
directory owner and permissions are not hidden.
Restricted permissions can restrict access to the mounted file system. Unlike other
file systems, the root file system (/) is mounted as soon as the kernel is running and
cannot be unmounted because it is required for system operation. The usr file system, if
it is a separate file system from the root file system, must also be mounted for the
system to operate properly.
You can mount file systems in several ways:
Manually with the mount command.
Automatically when the system is booted, using information in the file /etc/fstab.
Automatically when the file system is accessed (called automounting, which applies to
NFS (remote) file systems only.
You can unmount file systems in two ways:
Shut down the system (file systems are unmounted automatically)
Manually unmount file systems with the umount command.

3. File Systems: mount and umount
Mounting and Formatting Floppy Disks
If you want to read a book you should first havethe book. In a similar manner if you
want to access the contents of a file on a floppy disk, first of all you should mount it. As
already stated /dev/fd0 references your floppy drive.
You can mount any directory of your choice. However, your OpenLinux installation
already created a convenient directory, to use your floppy disks which is /mnt/floppy
directory. The following command mounts the floppy in the system.
Mounting CD-ROMs
If you want to mount a CD-ROM disk, you are not expected to specify the device
name. The OpenLinux system has the directory /mnt/cdrom for CD-ROM file systems.
 The following command mounts a CD-ROM. # mount /mnt/cdrom If you want to
change a CD-ROM disk by another one, first you have to unmount the existing CD-
ROM disk and then mount the new CD-ROM

4. Thank you..!!