[ale] USB->IDE problems

[Michael D. Hirsch]

On Wednesday 21 January 2004 06:08 pm, Chris Fowler wrote:
> On Wed, 2004-01-21 at 17:58, Geoffrey wrote:
> > Okay, so maybe my comparison is inappropriate, but what's wrong with:
> >
> > sync
> > umount
> > disconnect drive
> >
> > I don't see any difference between that and say a removable device such
> > as a zip.
> >
> > Where's the flaw in my thought process?
>
> There is no flaw in your thought process.  If I was a user I would do
> the same thing.  The problem is that this USB drive or thumb drive will
> be on a embedded network management device.  The user may wish to make a
> backup of the logs or view them so they will walk into the data center
> and unplug the drive from the rear of the unit.  When they are done they
> will plug it in.  If there were to unmount it, that would require them
> to login to the device as an admin. In Winbloze I can unplug and plug my
> hot plug devices all day long.  This is a setup I need to replicate
> under Linux.

You need supermount.  Mandrake uses it, or you can download it from 
sourceforge.  This is exactly how I use my removable drives under mandrake.  
Stick them in, write or read to/from them, unplug when finished.  Works great 
for floppies, CDs, even my usb CF reader.

Michael