Can't read fstab

[photofinishron]

Debian 5.0.5 lenny; Kernal Linux 2.6.26-2-686; GNOME 2.22.3

Trying to read the fstab file using:

ron@IBM-lt:~$ su
password
IBM-LT:/home/ron# /etc/fstab
bash: /etc/fstab: Permission denied
IBM-LT:/home/ron#


So why can't I read the fstab file?

Thanks

Ron

[markcole]

What you are trying to do with the commands you listed is attempt to execute the /etc/fstab file. If you want to view its contents you can use cat, more, less, head, tail, etc....

prompt#cat /etc/fstab

[oz]

If the command line isn't a must, you should also be able to read the fstab easily by simply navigating to it with Nautilus and clicking on it.

For lots of quick lessons using the command line, check out LinuxCommand.org:

LinuxCommand.org: Learn the Linux command line

[photofinishron]

Nautilus, I'm guessing is a file browser program similar to the ("Computer" - Icon) on the GNOME Desktop?

So yes using the icon and file browsing I could "see" the file fstab.

So maybe the better question is how to edit the fstab file as some forum posts are suggesting for fixing various problems?

(And no I'm not going in to make a bunch of unguided changes just for the fun of seeing what happens - Not yet anyway - - )

[photofinishron]

BTW: OH thanks for the link. I need to read that one!

[oz]

Nautilus, I'm guessing is a file browser program similar to the ("Computer" - Icon) on the GNOME Desktop?

So yes using the icon and file browsing I could "see" the file fstab.

So maybe the better question is how to edit the fstab file as some forum posts are suggesting for fixing various problems?

(And no I'm not going in to make a bunch of unguided changes just for the fun of seeing what happens - Not yet anyway - - )

Yes, Nautilus is the GUI file manager for the Gnome desktop.

If you want to use a GUI text editor, such as gedit, the quickest way is to use gksu if you have it installed:

gksu gedit /etc/fstab

Otherwise, it's hard to beat vi/vim or nano for quick text edits from the command line. Just open a terminal and use su or sudo (if you use sudo) to get to the command line and issue the command:

nano /etc/fstab

...substituting the text editor of your choice for nano.