Home directory does not appear to exist

[ibexslam]

Hey, folks!

Total noob here. You'll probably think my question is laughably simple and not even worth responding to. And you might be right, but I'm stuck. Haven't found the right info through searching.

I've just installed pclinux gnome onto a 4gb usb flash drive. When I get to the login screen it shows the username Ibex Slam, and then I get this: "Your home directory is listed as: '/home/ibex' but it does not appear to exist." But it does, at 1003.4 MB Removable Volume, which contains the folders guest, ibex and lost+found, whatever that is.

I think the deal is I've got a separate partition for my home, but the OS doesn't know that. Could that be?

Any tips on how to straighten out this wrinkle are appreciated.

Thanks!

I.

[Jonathan183]

There is normally a file /etc/fstab which you can open with an editor like nano, this will list a /home partition entry if it exists. The fstab file shows what partitions should be mounted and /etc/mtab shows what is actually mounted ... and should have corresponding entries. If you google fstab or mtab you can find additional information.
Don't try to change the values in either file ... it is easy to stop the system working by putting incorrect entries in them !

[ibexslam]

Don't try to change the values in either file.

OK, I won't. If you don't mind my asking...what should I do?

I.

[Jonathan183]

OK, I won't. If you don't mind my asking...what should I do?

I.

Check the file contents ... example for OpenSUSE ...
fstab ...

# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# <file system> <mount point>   <type>  <options>       <dump>  <pass>

proc	/proc	proc	defaults	0	0
sysfs	/sys	sysfs	noauto	0	0
usbfs	/proc/bus/usb	usbfs	noauto	0	0
devpts	/dev/pts	devpts	mode=0620,gid=5	0	0
/dev/disk/by-id/scsi-SATA_Hitachi_HTS5416_SB2D41E4CHTP6E-part8	/	ext3	defaults	1	1
/dev/disk/by-id/scsi-SATA_Hitachi_HTS5416_SB2D41E4CHTP6E-part2	/Windows-Vista/C	ntfs	defaults,nls=utf8,umask=0222,users	0	0
/dev/disk/by-id/scsi-SATA_Hitachi_HTS5416_SB2D41E4CHTP6E-part5	/Windows-Vista/D	ntfs-3g	users,gid=users,fmask=0,dmask=0,locale=en_GB.UTF-8	0	0
/dev/disk/by-id/scsi-SATA_Hitachi_HTS5416_SB2D41E4CHTP6E-part9	/home	ext3	defaults	1	2
/dev/disk/by-id/scsi-SATA_Hitachi_HTS5416_SB2D41E4CHTP6E-part7	swap	swap	defaults	0	0
debugfs	/sys/kernel/debug	debugfs	noauto	0	0


/dev/disk/by-id/scsi-SATA_Hitachi_HTS5416_SB2D41E4CHTP6E-part3 /LSF-root            ext3       defaults              1 2

and mtab ...

/dev/sda8 / ext3 rw 0 0
proc /proc proc rw 0 0
sysfs /sys sysfs rw 0 0
debugfs /sys/kernel/debug debugfs rw 0 0
udev /dev tmpfs rw 0 0
devpts /dev/pts devpts rw,mode=0620,gid=5 0 0
/dev/sda2 /Windows-Vista/C ntfs rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev,nls=utf8,umask=0222 0 0
/dev/sda5 /Windows-Vista/D fuseblk rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev,noatime,allow_other,default_permissions,blksize=4096 0 0
/dev/sda9 /home ext3 rw 0 0
/dev/sda3 /LSF-root ext3 rw 0 0
securityfs /sys/kernel/security securityfs rw 0 0

With /home entries in bold ... depending on how the partitions are identified you may have entries like /dev/sda1 etc in both files.

If you don't find a /home entry in fstab then you have probably not set a separate home partition.

Suggest you open a terminal and as root user run
fdisk -l
and post the output

Also post the contents of fstab

[i92guboj]

OK, I won't. If you don't mind my asking...what should I do?

I.

First, check that that line is not already in fstab. If it is, you should see a "/home/ibex" string somewhere in the middle. In that case, the config might just be fine. Make sure that /home/ibex is a directory and exists. Otherwise the system will not be able to mount any device on a non-existing directory.

If the directory exists, we must assume that the line in not in fstab (or it is incorrect). So what you should do, of course, is to change that file, and add a line like this:

/dev/sda1 /home/ibex ext3 defaults 0 1

You need to addapt it to your concrete case. Make sure that there is no other line similar to that (about /home/ibex). The first bit is the partition that holds your home directory. You should know what this is, addapt it coveniently.

The next piece is your home dir, just make sure that the dir exists. No need to change that.

The next option is very important. It is the filesystem you used to format your partition. Most probably, if you are new to linux you used ext3 which should be the default. Other common options are ext2, xfs or reiserfs.

You can leave the rest as is for now.

Save the file, and once you are back on the command line, do this:

mount /home/ibex

If there is any error, post it here. Check /home/ibex, and see if your files are there. If they are not and there is no error, post the output of this command:

dmesg | tail

Along with any error that might have appeared on the command line.

[ibexslam]

In fstab, I've got:

# /dev/sdb5, size=2055052, type=131: Journalised FS: ext3 (extended)
/dev/sdb5 /home ext3 defaults 0 0

and to it I added:
/dev/sda1 /home/ibex ext3 defaults 0 1

(I have to take back what I said about not changing the file. Dang.)

In mtab, home doesn't appear.

Incidentally, for what it's worth, after installing, I had to change all the sdb's to sda's in device.map and menu.lst (otherwise "kernel panic").

mount /home/ibex gives me this:
mount: mount point /home/ibex does not exist

Here's all of my original fstab:
* * * * * * * * * * * *
## fstab created by Livecd-install

none /proc proc defaults 0 0
none /dev/pts devpts mode=0620 0 0
none /proc/bus/usb usbfs defaults 0 0

# fd: H1440
/dev/fd0 /media/floppy auto user,exec,rw,noauto 0 0

# /dev/hda1, size=39102147, type=7: NTFS (primary)
/dev/hda1 /mnt/win_c ntfs user,exec,ro,auto,nls=utf8,umask=0 0 0

# cdrom: CRD-8482B
# /dev/hdc /media/cdrom auto user,exec,ro,noauto 0 0

# /dev/sdb1, size=1015684, type=130: Linux swap (primary)
/dev/sdb1 swap swap defaults 0 0

# /dev/sdb5, size=2055052, type=131: Journalised FS: ext3 (extended)
/dev/sdb5 /home ext3 defaults 0 0

# /dev/sdb6, size=4984180, type=131: Journalised FS: ext3 (extended)
/dev/sdb6 / ext3 defaults 1 1
/dev/hdc /mnt/cdrom auto umask=0022,users,iocharset=utf8,sync,noauto,ro,exe c 0 0
* * * * * * * * * * * *

Here's what fdisk -l gives me:
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Disk /dev/hda: 81.9 GB, 81964302336 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9964 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hda1 * 1 9957 79979571 7 HPFS/NTFS

Disk /dev/sda: 4126 MB, 4126146560 bytes
127 heads, 62 sectors/track, 1023 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 7874 * 512 = 4031488 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 129 507842 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda2 130 1023 3519678 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 130 390 1027526 83 Linux
/dev/sda6 391 1023 2492090 83 Linux
* * * * * * * * * * * *

I'm thinking about going into fstab and changing those sdb's...though that would be based on sheer guesswork on my part. But root access + guesswork = possible disaster. I'm a danger to myself at this point. Any tips?

I.

[i92guboj]

Take a break, relax, and think a bit before doing anything.

In fstab, I've got:

# /dev/sdb5, size=2055052, type=131: Journalised FS: ext3 (extended)
/dev/sdb5 /home ext3 defaults 0 0

and to it I added:
/dev/sda1 /home/ibex ext3 defaults 0 1

Why? Did you really did a partition for /home, and another for /home/ibex? That'd be a nonsense. I think you are confusing something. Read further.

mount /home/ibex gives me this:
mount: mount point /home/ibex does not exist

Read my other post above: You can't mount any device into a mount point that doesn't exist. Create the mount point before:

mkdir /home/ibex

I'm thinking about going into fstab and changing those sdb's...though that would be based on sheer guesswork on my part. But root access + guesswork = possible disaster. I'm a danger to myself at this point. Any tips?.

That is the correct thing to do. All the devices in fstab must be real partitions, and fdisk -l tell you the partitions you have. So, if fdisk -l doesn't list it, then it doesn't exist in which regards the linux kernel. Correct your fstab, and create the missing mount point.

But there's probably something else wrong in that fstab.

For what I can deduct, sda1 is your swap partition. sda5 must be / and not /home (though I can't be sure without taking a glance at the contents) and sda6 is your home.

Before making any other mistake, I propose you one thing: do this and paste here the output:

cd /mnt
mkdir tmp
mount /dev/sda5 tmp
ls -a tmp/
umount tmp
mount /dev/sdb6 tmp
ls -a tmp
umount tmp

Paste here the results. If nothing else failts, we can take a view at the contents of the partitions and give you a definitive and correct version of your fstab.

Post also the output of the command "mount" without arguments. It should output the list of mounted partitions.

[ibexslam]

I relaxed so much, I fell asleep.

OK, here's the results from your commands:

bash-3.1# cd /mnt
bash-3.1# mkdir tmp
bash-3.1# mount /dev/sda5 tmp
bash-3.1# ls -a tmp/
. .. guest ibex lost+found
bash-3.1# umount tmp
bash-3.1# mount /dev/sdb6 tmp
mount: special device /dev/sdb6 does not exist
...etc.

And here's mount:

/dev/sdb6 on / type ext3 (rw)
none on /proc type proc (rw)
none on /dev/pts type devpts (rw,mode=0620)
none on /proc/bus/usb type usbfs (rw)
/dev/hda1 on /mnt/win_c type ntfs (ro,nosuid,nodev,nls=utf8,umask=0)
none on /proc/sys/fs/binfmt_misc type binfmt_misc (rw)
none on /sys/fs/fuse/connections type fusectl (rw)
/dev/sda5 on /mnt/removable type ext3 (rw,sync,noatime)
/dev/sda6 on /mnt/removable1 type ext3 (rw,sync,noatime)

Much obliged for your assistance so far.

I.

[Jonathan183]

I relaxed so much, I fell asleep.

OK, here's the results from your commands:

bash-3.1# cd /mnt
bash-3.1# mkdir tmp
bash-3.1# mount /dev/sda5 tmp
bash-3.1# ls -a tmp/
. .. guest ibex lost+found
bash-3.1# umount tmp
bash-3.1# mount /dev/sdb6 tmp
mount: special device /dev/sdb6 does not exist
...etc.

And here's mount:

/dev/sdb6 on / type ext3 (rw)
none on /proc type proc (rw)
none on /dev/pts type devpts (rw,mode=0620)
none on /proc/bus/usb type usbfs (rw)
/dev/hda1 on /mnt/win_c type ntfs (ro,nosuid,nodev,nls=utf8,umask=0)
none on /proc/sys/fs/binfmt_misc type binfmt_misc (rw)
none on /sys/fs/fuse/connections type fusectl (rw)
/dev/sda5 on /mnt/removable type ext3 (rw,sync,noatime)
/dev/sda6 on /mnt/removable1 type ext3 (rw,sync,noatime)

Much obliged for your assistance so far.

I.

You need to try sda6 rather than sdb6 ...
From output so far it looks like sda5 is /home to me ...
If you get for sda6 something like
bin dev etc lib media .... then sda6 is the root and sdb => sda looks like a good move.

[i92guboj]

I relaxed so much, I fell asleep.

OK, here's the results from your commands:

bash-3.1# mount /dev/sdb6 tmp
mount: special device /dev/sdb6 does not exist
...etc.

As someone stated above, sdb6 was a typo on my side. Try sda6, mount it and show as the ls for that partition.

bash-3.1# cd /mnt
bash-3.1# mkdir tmp
bash-3.1# mount /dev/sda5 tmp
bash-3.1# ls -a tmp/
. .. guest ibex lost+found
bash-3.1# umount tmp

Well, this shows that sda5 is /home, but then, sda6 must be /, and not /home/ibex as you say. Since there must be a / partition. We will see that when you paste the output of ls for that partition.

/dev/sdb6 on / type ext3 (rw)

Is this another typo? If not, then you didn't paste all the info from fdisk -l above. Do you have two drives?