I get that I can use mount
to set up /
directories and that I can use the /etc/fstab
to remount them on reboot.
Testing the fstab file is also fun with mount -faV
.
When I'm looking at the fstab file, the number of space is disconcerting. I would have expected one space (like a separator between command parameters) or four spaces (like a tab). I'm seeing seven spaces at a time, almost as convention.
My question is: What are all the spaces in the /etc/fstab for?
(Perhaps also – Will it matter if I get the wrong number?)
Best Answer
The number of spaces is a way to cosmetically separate the columns/fields. It has no meaning other than that. I.e. no the amount of white space between columns does not matter.
The space between columns is comprised of white space (including tabs), and the columns themselves, e.g. comma-separated options, mustn't contain unquoted white space.
From the
fstab(5)
man page:and
Example
With the following lines alignment using solely a single tab becomes hard to achieve. In the end the
fstab
without white space looks messier than what you consider disconcerting now.Can you still see the "columns"?