dev/loopX when mounting a regular file

banderas20 · 04-06-2023, 04:39 PM

Hi!

I have created a filesystem inside a regular file:

1. Created a dummy 2GB file.
2. Created the partition with

Code:

fdisk <file>

3. Formatted it with

Code:

mkfs.ext4 <file>

4. Checked it with

Code:

file <file>

. I got the UUID.
5. Added it to

Code:

/etc/fstab

starting with the UUID.
6. Remounted all with

Code:

mount -a

But I can't find any reference to the file. Neither with

Code:

lsblk

nor

Code:

df -h

. Instead, I see a new /dev/loopX device.

I don't know how to interpret this. Moreover, am I missing something?

Thanks a lot!

michaelk · 04-06-2023, 06:33 PM

Use the absolute path to the file not the UUID. /etc/fstab line like:

Code:

/path/to/file /mount/point  ext4 loop 0 0

banderas20 · 04-07-2023, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michaelk

Use the absolute path to the file not the UUID. /etc/fstab line like:

Code:

/path/to/file /mount/point  ext4 loop 0 0

I will

Anyway, what does the "loop" mean? I have plenty of /dev/loopX in the system.

Thanks!

michaelk · 04-07-2023, 06:52 AM

Those loops are used for other stuff. A loop let's the system use a file like a block device, filesystem.

banderas20 · 04-07-2023, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michaelk

Those loops are used for other stuff. A loop let's the system use a file like a block device, filesystem.

Understood. Thanks!