/etc/fstab Line Builder
Back up fstab before editing. Generate a fifth-field line you can sudoedit into /etc/fstab.
Field order
/etc/fstab columns are filesystem, mountpoint, fstype, options, dump, fsck-pass. NFS and network filesystems commonly add _netdev so mounts wait for networking.
For swap targets the mountpoint column is traditionally `swap` even when the fstype column is swap as well.
Linux fstab entry helper
This fstab line generator concentrates on readable defaults for ext4 xfs btrfs vfat NFS and swap. Always validate with sudo findmnt afterwards when you activate new mounts.
fstab FAQ
How do I find a partition UUID?
Run lsblk -f or blkid against the disk. Copy the lowercase UUID literal into UUID=xxxxxxxx without quotes in fstab.
What does the last column (pass) mean?
The pass field informs fs boot order: root is commonly 1, other local ext-family filesystems 2 and network or bind mounts frequently 0.
Should I paste comments above scary edits?
Yes. Comment with the ISO date anytime you rearrange NFS or swap lines so restores are easier.
Are Windows paths vfat?
FAT32 EFIs often vfat whereas exFat uses exfat or fuse.ntfs mounts may need ntfs-3g per distribution.