research > lab > docs > Floppies

CSCS Computer Lab Documentation:
Using Floppy Disks or CDs on Linux Systems

NOTICE: In the not too distant future Floppy Disks will be phased out of our hardware and our support docs. We recommend you be sure to get RW CD and/or DVD on any computer you buy. Thanks.

The following contains procedures for using the floppy disk drive or CD Rom. Linux can read and write to a variety of filesystems (the native linux filesystem is ext2 , the second extended filesystem). In particular, linux can read and write msdos and vfat filesystems (but not ntfs, the filesystem used by MS NT 4.0, reading is supported). So if you would like to bring in a floppy or CD from home, you will need to follow the procedures outlined below to access it in the CSCS Lab:

Floppy access via the GUI

NOTE: Starting with Redhat 7.2, GUI access is the supported and recommended method for accessing floppies. To access a floppy, insert the floppy and right click on the desktop, select disks, select floppy. An icon labeled floppy will appear on the desktop. Double clicking on the floppy will open a file manager displaying /mnt/floppy. When you are done with the floppy, close the file manager and right click on the desktop, select disks, un-select floppy and the filesystem will be unmounted. You can now eject the floppy.

For floppy disks via command line:

• insert your floppy disk into the floppy drive.
• run the following command: mount /mnt/floppy
• now you can copy your files back and forth between your home directory, for example:

    cp /mnt/floppy/myfile ~/

• when you are done: umount /mnt/floppy
• eject the disk and you are all set.

For CDs: NOTE: Starting with Redhat 7.2, GUI access is the supported and recommended method for accessing cdroms.

data cdrom - redhat linux automatically mounts the cdrom, opens a nautilus file manager with /mnt/cdrom displayed, and puts an icon on the desktop. To eject the cdrom, close the file manager, right click on the desktop, select disks, and un-select cdrom. The cdrom will auto-eject.

music cdrom - redhat linux will detect that it is a music cdrom and the gnome cd player will open and start playing the cd. It can be ejected at anytime by pressing the eject button on the cdrom.

Command line access

• insert your CD into the CD Rom.

• run the following command: mount /mnt/cdrom

• now you can copy your files into your home directory, for example:

    cp /mnt/cdrom/myfile ~/

• when you are done: umount /mnt/cdrom

• eject the CD and you are all set.

  Note: You can only copy files from the CD Rom into your working directories. For writing files to CDs, please see the instructions here.

If you have an unformatted disk and you would like to format it you will need the system administrator to help because of the access privaleges needed, please contact CSCS administrators.

Updated September 1, 2005