Checking for a mount in a shell script (Was: Re: Preparing for Debian 13)

[Andy Smith <andy@strugglers.net>]

Hi,

On Sun, May 18, 2025 at 12:47:25PM -0400, Default User wrote:
> Since I know almost no shell scripting, the rsync usb drive A 
> to usb drive B copy is done with a simple bash script consisting 
> only of the rsync backup command, with options and parameters, but
> without any code to verify that usb drive B is attached. 
> 
> I really should learn more shell scripting. That is something 
> else I will get to "Real Soon Now".
> :)

If your backup script is a bash script then all you need do is put
something like:

if ! findmnt /mnt/usb-drive-b; then
    echo "Mount USB drive B before running this!" >&2
    exit 1
fi

near the top of your script, assuming that /mnt/usb-drive-b is where you
expect that to be mounted.

You can do fancier checks to make sure that the thing mounted there is
really the correct thing, but that will do for starters.

Thanks,
Andy

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