How to mount external hd? (what's the /dev/??? hardware address?)

[attilathepun]

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Hi,
I've been using Linux for a little while now, but I have something of a n00b question for someone: How do I mount an external hard drive? I can make the entry in /etc/fstab by hand, that's not normally a problem, except I don't know the hardware address (/dev/?something?) for the device. /dev/sda1 or /dev/sdb1 (depending on whether there's already a flashdrive mounted) doesn't work, and /dev/hde1 (I have 4 internal ide drives) doesn't work either.

Please let me know, and please let me know how to 'listen' to the kernel (I know there's a way to make the kernel print all messages on the terminal screen, that should tell me, but I don't remember the command).
Thank you very much!

[Zelmo]

If it's a USB drive (or firewire might work the same way), do this in a terminal:

#tail -f /var/log/syslog

That will print out the last 10 lines (the tail) of the system log, and the -f option (follow) keeps the tail program running so you can see any additions to the log file as they occur.
Then plug the drive into a USB (or firewire) port. You'll probably also need to power it on so it'll be recognized. Watch the terminal for new stuff that tells you where the device node is for the drive.

[attilathepun]

Ah, thanks. I promise, I'll remember it this time