[CentOS] kingston usb memory stick and file mode permissions

[Paul Heinlein]

On Mon, 5 May 2008, James B. Byrne wrote:

> I wish to change the ownership and access permissions of files and 
> directories contained on this device.  The device is immediately 
> recognized and mounted when plugged in and I can create and move 
> files on it.  However, I cannot change either the permissions or the 
> owner of any file or directory on this device, nor of the device 
> mount itself, whether logged in as the owner or as root.
>
> Why is this so and is their any way to alter this behaviour.

Most flash memory devices are formatted with a FAT or VFAT filesystem, 
which doesn't support Unix file permissions.

If you're only using the device under Linux, you can re-format it with 
your filesystem of choice (ext3, xfs, ...) et voila!

If you need to pass the device back and forth between Linux, Windows, 
and/or Macs, then V/FAT (warts and all) is probably the only good 
solution.

-- 
Paul Heinlein <> heinlein at madboa.com <> http://www.madboa.com/