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Configure /etc/fstab to Persistently Mount a File System

Learning to create file systems and persistently mount them across reboots is an essential skill for Linux administrators. In this lab, we format two new system disks and create filesystems on the newly-created disk partitions. Then we create the directories for the mount points and configure `/etc/fstab` to persistently mount the file systems so they are available on system startup.

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Path Info

Level
Clock icon Intermediate
Duration
Clock icon 30m
Last updated
Clock icon Jul 26, 2025

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Table of Contents

  1. Challenge

    Log in to the Lab Server and Gain `root` Access 

    # sudo -i

  2. Challenge

    Format `xvdb`

    List the available system disks and format /dev/xvdb. Enter n for new partition, p for primary, and take the defaults. Type w to write the changes to the system.

    # lsblk
# fdisk /dev/xvdb
Welcome to fdisk (util-linux 2.23.2).

Changes will remain in memory only, until you decide to write them.
Be careful before using the write command.

Device does not contain a recognized partition table
Building a new DOS disklabel with disk identifier 0xae23de7b.

Command (m for help): n
Partition type:
   p   primary (0 primary, 0 extended, 4 free)
   e   extended
Select (default p): p
Partition number (1-4, default 1): 
First sector (2048-4194303, default 2048): 
Using default value 2048
Last sector, +sectors or +size{K,M,G} (2048-4194303, default 4194303): 
Using default value 4194303
Partition 1 of type Linux and of size 2 GiB is set

Command (m for help): w
The partition table has been altered!

Calling ioctl() to re-read partition table.
Syncing disks.

  3. Challenge

    Create the File System and Directory for `dbadmin` 

    # mkfs.xfs /dev/xvdb1

    # mkdir /dbadmin

  4. Challenge

    Configure `xvdb1` to Be Persistently Mounted

    Configure /etc/fstab to persistently mount the /dbadmin file system as read-only. Mount the file system, verify it mounted successfully, and test creating a file in that directory.

    # blkid /dev/xvdb1

    # vim /etc/fstab	
	UUID:<YOURDEVICESUUID>		/dbadmin	xfs	ro,defaults	0	0

    # mount -a
# df -h
# cd /dbadmin
# touch test
 touch: cannot touch ‘test’: Read-only file system

  5. Challenge

    Format `xvdc`

    List the available system disks and format /dev/xvdc. Enter n for new partition, p for primary, and take the defaults. Type w to write the changes to the system.

    # lsblk
# fdisk /dev/xvdc
Welcome to fdisk (util-linux 2.23.2).

Changes will remain in memory only, until you decide to write them.
Be careful before using the write command.

Device does not contain a recognized partition table
Building a new DOS disklabel with disk identifier 0xae23de7b.

Command (m for help): n
Partition type:
   p   primary (0 primary, 0 extended, 4 free)
   e   extended
Select (default p): p
Partition number (1-4, default 1): 
First sector (2048-4194303, default 2048): 
Using default value 2048
Last sector, +sectors or +size{K,M,G} (2048-4194303, default 4194303): 
Using default value 4194303
Partition 1 of type Linux and of size 2 GiB is set

Command (m for help): w
The partition table has been altered!

Calling ioctl() to re-read partition table.
Syncing disks.

  6. Challenge

    Create the File System and Directory for `www` 

    # mkfs.xfs /dev/xvdc1

    # mkdir /www

  7. Challenge

    Configure `xvdc1` to Be Persistently Mounted

    Configure /etc/fstab to persistently mount the /www file system. Mount the file system and verify it mounted successfully.

    # blkid /dev/xvdc1

    # vim /etc/fstab	
	UUID:<YOURDEVICESUUID>		/www	xfs	defaults	0	0

    # mount -a
# df -h
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