lfs-book/chapter08/fstab.xml

<sect1 id="ch08-fstab">
<title>Creating the /etc/fstab file</title>
<?dbhtml filename="fstab.html" dir="chapter08"?>

<para>The <filename>/etc/fstab</filename> file is used by some programs to
determine where partitions are to be mounted by default, which file systems
must be checked and in which order. Create a new file systems table like
this:</para>

<para><screen><userinput>cat &gt; /etc/fstab &lt;&lt; "EOF"</userinput>
# Begin /etc/fstab

# filesystem  mount-point  fs-type  options     dump  fsck-order

/dev/xxx      /            fff      defaults    1     1
/dev/yyy      swap         swap     pri=1       0     0
proc          /proc        proc     defaults    0     0
shm           /dev/shm     tmpfs    defaults    0     0

# End /etc/fstab
<userinput>EOF</userinput></screen></para>

<para>Of course, replace <filename>xxx</filename>, <filename>yyy</filename>
and <filename>fff</filename> with the values appropriate for your system --
for example <filename>hda2</filename>, <filename>hda5</filename> and
<filename>reiserfs</filename>. For all the details on the six fields in this
table, see <userinput>man 5 fstab</userinput>.</para>

<para>When using a reiserfs partition, the <emphasis>1 1</emphasis> at the
end of the line should be replaced with <emphasis>0 0</emphasis>, as such a
partition does not need to be dumped or checked</para>

<para>The <filename>/dev/shm</filename> mount point for tmpfs is included to
comply with Posix shared memory requirements.  For more information on this,
see <filename>Documentation/filesystems/tmpfs.txt</filename> in the kernel
source tree.</para>

<para>There are other lines which you may consider adding to your
<filename>fstab</filename> file.  One example is the line which you must have
if you are using devpts:</para>

<para><screen>devpts        /dev/pts     devpts   gid=4,mode=620  0     0</screen></para> 

<para>Another example is a line to use if you intend to use USB
devices:</para>
<para><screen>usbfs       /proc/bus/usb  usbfs    defaults    0     0</screen></para>

<para>Both of these options will of course only work if you have the relevant
support compiled into your kernel.</para>

</sect1>