how do you use a USB key in linux?

[edmicman]

I'm trying to troubleshoot my USB ports which I think are fried, and I'm trying to figure out a way to test them outside of XP to see if it's actually a hardware problem or just a weird XP problem. Anyway.....I have two linux live CDs - knoppix and mandrake. When I boot with them, I see something about detecting the USB ports and all, but when it comes up and I stick the key in, nothing seems to happen. I'm not that familiar with linux to know if its supposed to "plug and play" like windows, or if I have to try mounting something, or what. How do these things work under linux? I'm using a Sandisk Cruzer Mini if that helps. Thanks!

 

[imported_obsidian]

I've tried it with knoppix and it seems to detect and mount usb keys automatically. You might have usb problems.

 

[edmicman]

alirght thanks! I didn't know since it didn't show up if it wasn't working or if I just needed to change a setting somewhere....

 

[Armitage]

On my boxes I have to manually configure & mount usb keys.

Add a line like this to /etc/fstab
/dev/sdb1 /mnt/thumb vfat noauto,user 0 0

May have to play around with the device address a bit (sdb1 vs. sda1, etc.)