====== Adding a New Drive to the Ubuntu Server ======

This process is for adding a new storage drive to the Ubuntu server, formatting it as ''ext4'', mounting it under ''/mnt'', setting the correct permissions, making the mount permanent, and optionally sharing it over SMB.

The example below uses:

<code>
Drive: /dev/sdi
Partition: /dev/sdi2
Mount name: media8
Mount point: /mnt/media8
</code>

Replace those values as needed for future drives.

===== 1. Identify the New Drive =====

After connecting the drive, run:

<code bash>
lsblk -o NAME,SIZE,MODEL,SERIAL,FSTYPE,LABEL,UUID,MOUNTPOINTS
</code>

Look for the new drive by its size, model, serial number, label, or the fact that it is not currently mounted.

Example:

<code>
sdi   3.6T PSSD  L98420
├─sdi1
│      16M
└─sdi2
       3.6T exfat T7 4095-6F3B
</code>

In this example:

<code>
Disk:      /dev/sdi
Partition: /dev/sdi2
</code>

**Be certain that the correct drive has been identified before formatting it.**

===== 2. Format the Partition as ext4 =====

Formatting will erase the existing filesystem and all data on the partition.

For a permanent Linux server drive, use ''ext4'':

<code bash>
sudo mkfs.ext4 -L media8 /dev/sdi2
</code>

If the drive already contains another filesystem, such as exFAT, Ubuntu may ask:

<code>
Proceed anyway? (y,N)
</code>

Answer ''y'' only after confirming that the correct drive is being formatted.

The formatting process will create a new filesystem UUID.

===== 3. Create the Mount Point =====

Create the directory where the drive will be mounted:

<code bash>
sudo mkdir -p /mnt/media8
</code>

The naming convention for storage drives is:

<code>
/mnt/media1
/mnt/media2
/mnt/media3
...
/mnt/media8
</code>

===== 4. Get the New Filesystem UUID =====

After formatting, run:

<code bash>
sudo blkid /dev/sdi2
</code>

Example:

<code>
/dev/sdi2: LABEL="media8" UUID="a28ee7c4-9f5a-468a-a7aa-c82acdb2c798" TYPE="ext4"
</code>

Use the filesystem ''UUID'', not the ''PARTUUID''.

Formatting changes the filesystem UUID, so do not reuse the UUID that existed before formatting.

===== 5. Mount the Drive Temporarily =====

Mount the partition manually:

<code bash>
sudo mount /dev/sdi2 /mnt/media8
</code>

Verify that it mounted:

<code bash>
df -h /mnt/media8
</code>

Example:

<code>
Filesystem      Size  Used Avail Use% Mounted on
/dev/sdi2       3.6T  2.1M  3.4T   1% /mnt/media8
</code>

===== 6. Set Ownership and Permissions =====

The server's shared media drives use:

<code>
Owner: mike
Group: media
</code>

Set ownership:

<code bash>
sudo chown mike:media /mnt/media8
</code>

Set permissions:

<code bash>
sudo chmod 2775 /mnt/media8
</code>

The leading ''2'' sets the setgid bit. This causes newly created files and directories to inherit the ''media'' group.

Verify:

<code bash>
ls -ld /mnt/media8
</code>

Expected permissions should look similar to:

<code>
drwxrwsr-x mike media /mnt/media8
</code>

===== 7. Create Media Folders =====

Create whatever folders will live on the drive.

Example:

<code bash>
mkdir "/mnt/media8/TV Torrents"
</code>

Verify:

<code bash>
ls -ld "/mnt/media8/TV Torrents"
</code>

It should also belong to:

<code>
mike media
</code>

and normally inherit the setgid permissions.

===== 8. Add the Drive to /etc/fstab =====

Use the filesystem UUID so the drive mounts consistently even if its ''/dev/sdX'' device name changes.

Example:

<code bash>
echo 'UUID=a28ee7c4-9f5a-468a-a7aa-c82acdb2c798 /mnt/media8 ext4 defaults,nofail,x-systemd.device-timeout=60 0 2' | sudo tee -a /etc/fstab
</code>

**Important:** ''nofail'' is intentionally included on media/data drives.

This prevents a failed, disconnected, or missing storage drive from preventing Ubuntu from booting.

''x-systemd.device-timeout=60'' tells systemd to wait up to 60 seconds for the drive to become available during boot. This is useful for external USB storage, because some drives may take longer to initialize when several drives are connected.

The combination:

<code>
nofail,x-systemd.device-timeout=60
</code>

means that Ubuntu will give the drive up to 60 seconds to appear, but will still continue booting if the drive is missing or unavailable.

The entry follows this format:

<code>
UUID=FILESYSTEM-UUID /mnt/NAME ext4 defaults,nofail,x-systemd.device-timeout=60 0 2
</code>

Example:

<code>
UUID=a28ee7c4-9f5a-468a-a7aa-c82acdb2c798 /mnt/media8 ext4 defaults,nofail,x-systemd.device-timeout=60 0 2
</code>

===== 9. Reload systemd and Validate fstab =====

After changing ''/etc/fstab'', run:

<code bash>
sudo systemctl daemon-reload
</code>

Validate the ''fstab'' configuration:

<code bash>
sudo findmnt --verify --verbose
</code>

The important result is that there are no parse errors or errors.

Warnings may still appear for certain filesystem types or the swap file and do not necessarily indicate an invalid ''fstab'' entry.

For a media drive using the recommended settings, ''findmnt'' should show:

<code>
userspace options: nofail,x-systemd.device-timeout=60
</code>

===== 10. Test the Permanent Mount =====

Unmount the drive:

<code bash>
sudo umount /mnt/media8
</code>

Then mount everything listed in ''/etc/fstab'':

<code bash>
sudo mount -a
</code>

If no errors appear, verify the drive:

<code bash>
findmnt /mnt/media8
</code>

Check space:

<code bash>
df -h /mnt/media8
</code>

Check the media folder:

<code bash>
ls -ld "/mnt/media8/TV Torrents"
</code>

Example successful result:

<code>
TARGET      SOURCE    FSTYPE OPTIONS
/mnt/media8 /dev/sdi2 ext4   rw,relatime
</code>

===== 11. Add the Drive as an SMB Share =====

If the new drive should be accessible over the network, add it to Samba.

The media shares on this server use the following configuration:

<code>
[media8]
path = /mnt/media8
browseable = yes
read only = no
valid users = mike
force group = media
create mask = 0664
directory mask = 0775
</code>

Append the new share to ''/etc/samba/smb.conf'':

<code bash>
sudo tee -a /etc/samba/smb.conf >/dev/null <<'EOF'
[media8]
path = /mnt/media8
browseable = yes
read only = no
valid users = mike
force group = media
create mask = 0664
directory mask = 0775
EOF
</code>

Replace ''media8'' and ''/mnt/media8'' as needed for future drives.

Validate the Samba configuration:

<code bash>
sudo testparm
</code>

A successful test should include:

<code>
Loaded services file OK.
</code>

The new share should also appear in the service definitions shown by ''testparm''.

If the configuration is valid, reload Samba:

<code bash>
sudo systemctl reload smbd
</code>

Verify the underlying mount permissions:

<code bash>
ls -ld /mnt/media8
</code>

Expected ownership and permissions should look similar to:

<code>
drwxrwsr-x mike media /mnt/media8
</code>

The share can then be accessed from another computer using:

<code>
smb://server/media8
</code>

On macOS, use:

<code>
Finder → Go → Connect to Server
</code>

The Samba settings work together with the filesystem permissions:

  * ''valid users = mike'' restricts access to the Samba user ''mike''.
  * ''force group = media'' causes files created through Samba to use the ''media'' group.
  * ''create mask = 0664'' allows the owner and group to write newly created files.
  * ''directory mask = 0775'' allows the owner and group to write newly created directories.
  * The setgid permission from ''chmod 2775'' helps newly created directories inherit the ''media'' group.

===== Useful Commands =====

Show all drives, filesystems, UUIDs, and mount points:

<code bash>
lsblk -o NAME,SIZE,MODEL,SERIAL,FSTYPE,LABEL,UUID,MOUNTPOINTS
</code>

Show mounted-drive disk usage:

<code bash>
df -h --output=source,size,used,avail,pcent,target
</code>

Show only ''/mnt'' storage:

<code bash>
df -h --output=source,size,used,avail,pcent,target | grep -E 'Filesystem|/mnt/'
</code>

Show information about one mount:

<code bash>
findmnt /mnt/media8
</code>

Show a filesystem UUID:

<code bash>
sudo blkid /dev/sdi2
</code>

Check that all expected media mounts are currently mounted:

<code bash>
for m in /mnt/media{1..8} /mnt/internal; do
  if mountpoint -q "$m"; then
    echo "OK      $m"
  else
    echo "MISSING $m"
  fi
done
</code>

Validate ''/etc/fstab'':

<code bash>
sudo findmnt --verify --verbose
</code>

Validate the Samba configuration:

<code bash>
sudo testparm
</code>

Reload Samba after making a configuration change:

<code bash>
sudo systemctl reload smbd
</code>

===== Important Notes =====

  * Never format a drive until its identity has been confirmed using its size, model, serial number, existing filesystem, and mount status.
  * Do not rely on names such as ''/dev/sdi'' remaining permanent. Linux device letters can change between boots or when USB drives are connected in a different order.
  * Permanent mounts should therefore use filesystem UUIDs in ''/etc/fstab''.
  * All external/data-drive mounts on this server should use ''nofail'' so that a missing storage drive cannot prevent the server from booting.
  * External/media drives should use ''x-systemd.device-timeout=60'' so that slower USB drives have enough time to become available during startup.
  * The recommended combination for media drives is ''nofail,x-systemd.device-timeout=60''.
  * SMB shares should be validated with ''sudo testparm'' before reloading Samba.