/media

The /media directory in Unix and Linux systems is used as a common mount point for removable media, such as USB drives, CDs, DVDs, and other external storage devices. When you insert a removable device, many Linux distributions automatically mount it under the /media directory, creating a subdirectory named after the device label or identifier.

Overview of /media

• Purpose: To provide a standardized location for mounting removable media.

• Usage: Typically used by the operating system's automounter to mount devices when they are inserted.

• Directory Structure: Subdirectories within /media are often named after the label of the device or a unique identifier to distinguish between multiple devices.

Example Structure

When you plug in a USB drive labeled USB_DRIVE, the automounter might create a directory like /media/username/USB_DRIVE and mount the drive there.

/media/
└── username/
    ├── USB_DRIVE/
    └── ANOTHER_DRIVE/

Here, username is your current user's name.

Automatic Mounting

Many desktop environments (such as GNOME, KDE, and others) automatically mount removable devices to /media using tools like udisks or gvfs. This automatic mounting is convenient for everyday users who need to access removable media without manually running mount commands.

Manual Mounting

While automatic mounting is convenient, you may sometimes need to manually mount a device to the /media directory. Here’s how you can do it:

Step-by-Step Example

1. Identify the Device: Use the lsblk or blkid command to find the device name.

   lsblk

   Output example:

   NAME   MAJ:MIN RM   SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINT
   sda      8:0    0 465.8G  0 disk 
   ├─sda1   8:1    0  93.1G  0 part /
   ├─sda2   8:2    0     1K  0 part 
   └─sda5   8:5    0 372.7G  0 part /home
   sdb      8:16   1  14.9G  0 disk 
   └─sdb1   8:17   1  14.9G  0 part 

   Here, /dev/sdb1 is the USB drive.

2. Create a Mount Point: Create a directory under /media where you want to mount the device.

   sudo mkdir -p /media/username/USB_DRIVE
3. Mount the Device: Use the mount command to mount the device to the created directory.

   sudo mount /dev/sdb1 /media/username/USB_DRIVE
4. Verify the Mount: Check that the device is mounted correctly.

   ls /media/username/USB_DRIVE

Unmounting

To unmount a device, use the umount command followed by the mount point or the device name.

Example

Unmount the previously mounted USB drive:

sudo umount /media/username/USB_DRIVE

Automatic Mounting Configuration

To configure automatic mounting behavior, you can use /etc/fstab for persistent mounts, or rely on desktop environment settings and automount tools.

Example /etc/fstab Entry

To automatically mount a USB drive with UUID a1b2c3d4-e5f6-7890-1234-56789abcdef0 at boot:

UUID=a1b2c3d4-e5f6-7890-1234-56789abcdef0 /media/username/USB_DRIVE ext4 defaults 0 0

Summary

The /media directory plays a crucial role in managing removable media in Unix and Linux systems. It provides a standardized location for mounting external devices, which can be handled automatically by the operating system or manually by the user. Understanding how to use and configure /media is essential for effectively managing storage devices and ensuring seamless access to external media.