How do I make a mount permanent?

[wayner]

When using the File Browser in Mint I know how to mount a drive/folder from my Windows machines but these mounts disappear when one reboots the PC. Is there a way to make a mount permanent using the GUI, or is the only option to put the mount command in the fstab file?

If I have to put the mount into the fstab file what command to I need?

[altair4]

There are GUI's - I don't use them because they tend to make a mess of things. I suggest you look at this:

Auto Mount Partition on Boot: http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=22093

It's presented as a series of templates. Very easy to follow.

[AndrewH]

If you want to auto mount an NTFS partition, ntfs-config in the repositories makes the process easy as cake.

[wayner]

OK I misspecified my original question - the drive that I want to mount is actually a Windows drive on my network and is accesssed via samba. How do I mount a drive that shows up in LM as smb://server/share both temporarily with the mount command, and permanently using fstab?

[altair4]

When using the File Browser in Mint I know how to mount a drive/folder from my Windows machines but these mounts disappear when one reboots the PC. Is there a way to make a mount permanent using the GUI, or is the only option to put the mount command in the fstab file?

Sorry, you clearly said "Windows machines" in your original post. For some reason I read that as Windows partition.

There is a way to to do that in fstab and have a link somewhere in my notes on how to do that but you might want to look at this:

Auto Mount Samba Shares on Boot ( GVFS Method ): http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=42713

It uses a different ( and in my opinion, easier ) method - in userspace to mount the share at boot. The counterpart to a manual mount using this method is:

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gvfs-mount smb://server/share

[wayner]

altair - can you put that command in fstab or does it have to go in another startup file?

I have found a solution that works for me. Here is the line that I have added to my fstab file:

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//server/Photos/ /home/fred/Pictures/ServerPhotos cifs credentials=/home/fred/.smbcredentials 0 0

The /home/fred/.smbcredentials file contains:

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username=fred
password=flinstone

You could also put the username and password in the fstab file (as below) but that is a bit of a security risk

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//server/Photos/ /home/fred/Pictures/ServerPhotos cifs username=fred,password=flinstone 0 0

But now you all know my password anyhow

[altair4]

You're using the classic method. Nothing wrong with that. The GVFS method doesn't use fstab at all. It will automount at login. Your way automounts at boot.

EDIT: Come to think of it I really should rename my HowTo to Auto Mount Samba Shares at Login

[wayner]

So you mean if I use the GVFS command once then it will always automount after reboots? Or do I have to put the command in a file that gets executed upon the machine booting up?

[altair4]

You didn't read the HowTo did you?

http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=42713

[wayner]

You caught me! I was looking for the old school stuff like putting it in a /etc/init.d file.

[altair4]

For things like mounting partitions and other linux internals I tend to go old school. When it comes to samba I'm an ordained minister in the Church of Whatever Works the Easiest.