mount(1M) mount(1M)
NAME
mount, umount (generic) - mount or unmount file systems and remote
resources
SYNOPSIS
mount [-F FSType] [-v | -p | -a]
mount [-F FSType] [-Vr] [-o specificoptions] {special | mountpoint}
mount [-F FSType] [-Vr] [-o specificoptions] special mountpoint
umount [-F FSType] [-V] [-o specificoptions] {special | mountpoint}
umount [-F FSType] -a
DESCRIPTION
File systems other than root ( / ) are considered removable in the
sense that they can be either available to users or unavailable. mount
notifies the system that special, a block special device or a remote
resource, is available to users from the mountpoint which must
already exist; it becomes the name of the root of the newly mounted
special or resource.
mount, when entered with arguments, validates all arguments except for
the device name and invokes a FSType specific mount module. If invoked
with no arguments, mount lists all the mounted file systems from the
mount table. If, for example, only special and/or mountpoint is
specified as an argument, mount searches the /etc/vfstab file and
retrieves the necessary arguments as follows: FSType, special,
mountpoint, and specificoptions. It will then invoke the FSType-
specific mount module. The only time mount does not search the
/etc/vfstab file is when all four arguments: FSType, special,
mountpoint, and specificoptions, are specified.
Most FSTypes do not have a umount specific module. If one exists it is
executed otherwise the generic module unmounts the file systems. If
the -o option is specified the umount specific module is always exe-
cuted.
OPTIONS
There are three types of option: genericoptions, otheroptions and
specificoptions.
genericoptions Indicate options that are supported not only by the
generic but also by the FST-specific module of the
command (if that command exists).
otheroptions Indicate options that are supported only by the gen-
eric command.
Page 1 Reliant UNIX 5.44 Printed 11/98
mount(1M) mount(1M)
specificoptions Indicate suboptions that are supported only by the
FSType-specific module [see mount(1M-ufs),
mount(1M-nfs) or mount(1M-vxfs)] of the command.
They are specified in a comma-separated list and/or
as keyword-attribute pairs for interpretation by the
FSType-specific module of the command. These subop-
tions are specified via the -o option.
The genericoptions are:
-F Specifies the FSType on which to operate, or restricts the opera-
tion to that FSType (the -pva options). The FSType must be speci-
fied or must be determinable from /etc/vfstab while mounting a
file system.
-V Echoes the complete command line, but does not execute the com-
mand. The command line is generated by using the options and
arguments provided by the user and adding to them information
derived from /etc/vfstab. This option should be used to verify
and validate the command line. When used with the FSType option,
it passes the option to the FSType-specific module for interpre-
tation.
-r Overrides /etc/vfstab and mount the file system read-only.
-o Specifies FSType-specific options.
The otheroptions are:
-v Prints the output in a new style. The new output has the FSType
and flags displayed in addition to the old output. The
mountpoint and special fields are reversed.
-p Prints the list of mounted file systems in the /etc/vfstab for-
mat.
-a Mounts (unmount) all file systems listed in /etc/vfstab
(/etc/mnttab). If an FSType is specified, then (un)mount only
file systems of that FSType. If mounting, then the automnt field
in vfstab must also be set to yes for the mount to occur.
mount can be used by any user to list mounted file systems and
resources. Only a superuser can mount or unmount file systems.
LOCALE
The LCMESSAGES environment variable governs the language in which
message texts are displayed.
If LCMESSAGES is undefined or is defined as the null string, it
defaults to the value of LANG. If LANG is likewise undefined or null,
the system acts as if it were not internationalized.
Page 2 Reliant UNIX 5.44 Printed 11/98
mount(1M) mount(1M)
If any of the locale variables has an invalid value, the system acts
as if none of the variables was set.
The LCALL environment variable governs the entire locale. LCALL
takes precedence over all the other environment variables which affect
internationalization.
NOTES
The old output format will be phased out in a future release and all
output will be in the new -v format. The most significant changes are
the addition of two new fields to show the FSType and flags and the
reversal of the mountpoint and special name.
mount adds an entry to the mount table /etc/mnttab; umount removes an
entry from the table.
mount refuses to mount a dirty file system. Normally, one should run
fsck to correct this situation. However, a file system may have the
ability to be force-mounted as read-only. See the appropriate FSType-
specific manual page for more information about this.
mount refuses to mount two file systems on the same mount point.
FILES
/etc/mnttab
mount table
/etc/vfstab
list of default parameters for each file system
SEE ALSO
setmnt(1M), mnttab(4), vfstab(4).
Manual pages for the FSType-specific modules of mount.
Page 3 Reliant UNIX 5.44 Printed 11/98