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Table of Contents
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, and making the mount permanent.
The example below uses:
Drive: /dev/sdi Partition: /dev/sdi2 Mount name: media8 Mount point: /mnt/media8
Replace those values as needed for future drives.
1. Identify the New Drive
After connecting the drive, run:
lsblk -o NAME,SIZE,MODEL,SERIAL,FSTYPE,LABEL,UUID,MOUNTPOINTS
Look for the new drive by its size, model, serial number, label, or the fact that it is not currently mounted.
Example:
sdi 3.6T PSSD L98420
├─sdi1
│ 16M
└─sdi2
3.6T exfat T7 4095-6F3B
In this example:
Disk: /dev/sdi Partition: /dev/sdi2
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:
sudo mkfs.ext4 -L media8 /dev/sdi2
If the drive already contains another filesystem, such as exFAT, Ubuntu may ask:
Proceed anyway? (y,N)
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:
sudo mkdir -p /mnt/media8
The naming convention for storage drives is:
/mnt/media1 /mnt/media2 /mnt/media3 ... /mnt/media8
4. Get the New Filesystem UUID
After formatting, run:
sudo blkid /dev/sdi2
Example:
/dev/sdi2: LABEL="media8" UUID="a28ee7c4-9f5a-468a-a7aa-c82acdb2c798" TYPE="ext4"
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:
sudo mount /dev/sdi2 /mnt/media8
Verify that it mounted:
df -h /mnt/media8
Example:
Filesystem Size Used Avail Use% Mounted on /dev/sdi2 3.6T 2.1M 3.4T 1% /mnt/media8
6. Set Ownership and Permissions
The server's shared media drives use:
Owner: mike Group: media
Set ownership:
sudo chown mike:media /mnt/media8
Set permissions:
sudo chmod 2775 /mnt/media8
The leading 2 sets the setgid bit. This causes newly created files and directories to inherit the media group.
Verify:
ls -ld /mnt/media8
Expected permissions should look similar to:
drwxrwsr-x mike media /mnt/media8
7. Create Media Folders
Create whatever folders will live on the drive.
Example:
mkdir "/mnt/media8/TV Torrents"
Verify:
ls -ld "/mnt/media8/TV Torrents"
It should also belong to:
mike media
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:
echo 'UUID=a28ee7c4-9f5a-468a-a7aa-c82acdb2c798 /mnt/media8 ext4 defaults,nofail 0 2' | sudo tee -a /etc/fstab
Important: nofail is intentionally included on media/data drives.
This prevents a failed, disconnected, or missing storage drive from preventing Ubuntu from booting.
The entry follows this format:
UUID=FILESYSTEM-UUID /mnt/NAME ext4 defaults,nofail 0 2
Example:
UUID=a28ee7c4-9f5a-468a-a7aa-c82acdb2c798 /mnt/media8 ext4 defaults,nofail 0 2
9. Reload systemd
After changing /etc/fstab, run:
sudo systemctl daemon-reload
10. Test the Permanent Mount
Unmount the drive:
sudo umount /mnt/media8
Then mount everything listed in /etc/fstab:
sudo mount -a
If no errors appear, verify the drive:
findmnt /mnt/media8
Check space:
df -h /mnt/media8
Check the media folder:
ls -ld "/mnt/media8/TV Torrents"
Example successful result:
TARGET SOURCE FSTYPE OPTIONS /mnt/media8 /dev/sdi2 ext4 rw,relatime
Useful Commands
Show all drives, filesystems, UUIDs, and mount points:
lsblk -o NAME,SIZE,MODEL,SERIAL,FSTYPE,LABEL,UUID,MOUNTPOINTS
Show mounted-drive disk usage:
df -h --output=source,size,used,avail,pcent,target
Show only /mnt storage:
df -h --output=source,size,used,avail,pcent,target | grep -E 'Filesystem|/mnt/'
Show information about one mount:
findmnt /mnt/media8
Show a filesystem UUID:
sudo blkid /dev/sdi2
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.