[KLUG Members] Loop Filesystems

[Bruce Smith]

> Just a few quick questions about loopback filesystem mounting.
> Is there anyway for a normal user [not root] to mount a loop filesystem?

Yes, for static mounts, you can add an entry an entry in /etc/fstab with
the "user" option (like any other filesystem).  You'll probably also
want the "noauto" option so they are not mounted on boot.   i.e.:

/mnt/iso/floppy.img  /mnt/dlfd0  auto noauto,user,loop     0 0

> Is there any reason why I should not, on a secure, relitivly open,
> non-mission critical server, allow normal users "loop-yness"?

Depends on your users, what you're mounting, etc.   :-)

> linux 2.4.18 [and not afraid to upgrade]
> mount -o loop <file> <dir> works for root
> I use my system to build drivers disks for windows work computers, and
> while I burn them to a CDRW, I would like to know that the drivers, when
> un-compressed, won't show up as FILE01~1.EXT.

 - BS