PySDM - Graphical utility to mount drives on Live CD mode

[jonpackard]

Helios pointed out a shortcoming of the Ubuntu and Linux Mint Live CD. There is not a way to mount hard drives without manually editing the /etc/fstab file. This presents a large problem to new users who want access to their files on their hard drive while trying out Linux. I found an easy to use program to help with this.

Graphical Storage Device Manager
PySDM is a PyGTK Storage Device Manager that allows full customization of hard
disk mountpoints whitout manually access to fstab.
It also allows the creation of udev rules for dynamic configuration of storage
devices

I installed pysdm using synaptic and ran it by hitting Alt+F2 then typing 'gksu pysdm'. The GUI is fairly straight-forward, although it probably isn't as good as having the unmounted drives on the desktop for the user to see. At any rate, I find this program to be very useful even on the installed system and wouldn't mind seeing it in Bianca.

[jonpackard]

Correction: I forgot to mention that the goal of using this program is to mount drives without using the command line. Using the command line it is fairly easy but some users may prefer a GUI way to do this.

[Fragadelic]

Gonna have to check this out. It sounds good. Do you know if there is any way of having this as an applet so it can be put on the top panel?

[clem]

Hi,

It's full of options but it doesn't seem easy enough. For instance on a FAT partition, you shouldn't have to worry about octal numbers.. or even on a mount point. I want to introduce some kind of control center in Bianca and I'll look into that. I'm sure we can make a similar application which would be easier to use.

What do you guys think ?

Clem
by the way, developers are welcome to join in on that.

[jonpackard]

I think it's a great idea, Clem. I really like Linux Mint as both a live system and as an installed system. I use it on a spare PC whenever I am out and about and of course it is my primary OS on my own PC. Something like this will really set Linux Mint apart from Ubuntu. I can't wait to see what new apps will be created by Clem and the rest of the community. I really should brush up on my programming and help out.

[clem]

Well if you guys go on like this, posting new ideas everyday.. the sky is the limit

So far I noted two apps:
- a mount/fstab config tool
- a 3d effects enabler.

[Crashmaxx]

This was in dapper and previous releases, I thought it was ok, maybe it is a good starting point.

There are apps out there like you are describing. Damn Small Linux has more or less exactly what you want. I think it might be the same as mountapp, which is in the repositories but doesn't work properly for me. I think it is a GTK issue. But there are others out there.

BTW: The command for mountapp is mount.app not mountapp as you would expect.

[buster]

KDiskFree is a KDE app that can be used easily with Mepis. It sits at the bottom of the desktop and partitions can be right clicked to mount. (My system has a lot.) Need some KDE libraries I guess.

Command line works, but is confusing to newcomers. And easy is good.

[clem]

pyMou was added to Bea. Available from the command line.

Clem

[buster]

Thanks Clem