mount MacOS Command Guide

The MacOS mount command is used to attach storage devices and network shares to the file system. This command allows users to access the contents of external drives, network volumes, and disk images. By using the mount command, users can securely and efficiently access data from various sources without having to manually manage the mounting process. This guide will provide detailed information on how to use the mount command in MacOS, including different options and scenarios for mounting various types of storage devices and network shares. Through this guide, users will be able to leverage the mount command effectively for their file system management needs.

mount Syntax:

sudo mount [-adflrsvw] [-t ufs | external_type] [-o options] special | node

Options:

Option	Description
-a	Mount all filesystems in /etc/fstab
-d	Enable debugging
-f	Fake mount (don’t actually mount)
-l	Lazy mount (like the -l option of mount)
-r	Mount read-only
-s	Mount silently
-v	Be verbose
-w	Mount read-write

Parameters:

Parameter	Description
special	The block device or remote filesystem to be mounted
node	The directory on which to mount the filesystem (mount point)

Caution

Exercise caution while using the mount command to avoid unintentional changes to the system’s file system structure.

mount Command Samples:

Mount a Network File System (NFS)

mount -t nfs server:/path/to/share /mnt/nfs

Mount a CD-ROM

mount -t iso9660 /dev/cdrom /mnt/cdrom

Mount an External USB Drive

mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt/usb

Mount a Windows Share

mount -t cifs //server/share /mnt/windows -o username=user,password=pass

Mount an ISO Image

mount -o loop,ro image.iso /mnt/iso

Mount a File System with Read-Only Option

mount -o ro /dev/sdb2 /mnt/data

Mount a File System with Specified File System Type

mount -t ext4 /dev/sdc1 /mnt/ext4

Tip

When using the mount command in MacOS, make sure to carefully read the man pages (man mount) to understand the various functionalities and options available. Additionally, always exercise caution when mounting or unmounting filesystems to prevent data loss or corruption.

How do I use mount in MacOS?

To use the mount command in MacOS, execute the following command:

mount --option <value>

How can I mount a specific device in MacOS?

To mount a specific device in MacOS using the mount command, use the following syntax:

mount /dev/device_name /mount/point

How do I mount a network share in MacOS?

To mount a network share in MacOS using the mount command, you can use a command similar to this example:

mount -t afp afp://username:password@server_address/share /mount/point

How can I unmount a filesystem in MacOS?

To unmount a filesystem in MacOS, use the following command:

umount /mount/point

How do I mount a disk image in MacOS?

To mount a disk image in MacOS using the mount command, you can run a command like the one provided below:

hdiutil attach /path/to/disk_image.dmg

How can I list all mounted filesystems in MacOS?

To list all mounted filesystems in MacOS, you can use the mount command with no arguments:

mount

Applications of the mount command

• Mounting external drives
• Accessing network shares
• Mounting disk images
• Mounting remote file systems
• Mounting cloud storage directories