Linux Tip: auto mount remote hdd via fstab

To map a remote samba share in Linux with read-write access and a username and password, you will require samba. In debian based distros, this is easily obtained via sudo apt-get install samba.

1. Create a secure credentials file:

   tim@ubuntu-server:~$ cd /root
   tim@ubuntu-server:/root$ su
   Password:
   root@ubuntu-server:~# echo username=username > .smbpasswd
   root@ubuntu-server:~# echo password=password >> .smbpasswd
   root@ubuntu-server:~# cat .smbpasswd
   username=username
   password=password
   

2. Now you want to protect this file so that only root can read it:

   root@ubuntu-server:~# chmod 400 .smbpasswd
   root@ubuntu-server:~# ls -al .smbpasswd
   -r-------- 1 root root 36 2009-07-21 00:24 .smbpasswd
   root@ubuntu-server:~#
   

3. Open /etc/fstab in a text editor (make sure you’re root still!)

   root@ubuntu-server:~# cd /etc
   root@ubuntu-server:/etc# joe fstab
   

4. Add a similar line to the end of the file (don’t forget to leave blank line at the bottom!)

   //serverip/sharename  /mnt/path/filedrive    smbfs    credentials=/root/.smbpasswd  0       0
   

5. Now just tell the system to mount all points defined in fstab:

   root@ubuntu-server:/etc# mount -a
   

That’s it, you should now have your drive available!