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How to Mount ISO Files in Linux

mount iso linux

In Linux, ISO files are disk image files that contain the complete contents of a CD or DVD. These files are often used for software distribution, as they allow users to easily create a copy of the original disc. To access the contents of an ISO file, you need to mount it as a virtual disk. In this guide, we will show you how to mount ISO files in Linux using various methods.

Method 1: Using the mount Command

The mount command is a powerful utility that allows you to mount various file systems, including ISO files. Here’s how to use it to mount an ISO file:

  1. Create a mount point directory where you want to mount the ISO file. For example, let’s create a directory called iso in the /mnt directory:
sudo mkdir /mnt/iso
  1. Mount the ISO file using the mount command. For example, let’s mount an ISO file called ubuntu.iso located in the Downloads directory:
sudo mount ~/Downloads/ubuntu.iso /mnt/iso -o loop

In this command, -o loop specifies that the ISO file should be mounted as a loop device, which is a virtual device that allows you to access the contents of the ISO file.

  1. Access the contents of the ISO file by navigating to the mount point directory:
cd /mnt/iso

You can now view and modify the contents of the ISO file as if it was a physical disk.

  1. To unmount the ISO file, use the umount command:
sudo umount /mnt/iso

Method 2: Using the GNOME Disk Image Mounter

If you’re using a Linux distribution with the GNOME desktop environment, such as Ubuntu, you can use the built-in Disk Image Mounter tool to mount ISO files. Here’s how to use it:

  1. Right-click on the ISO file you want to mount and select “Open With Disk Image Mounter” from the context menu.
  2. The ISO file will be mounted automatically, and a file browser window will open showing the contents of the ISO file.
  3. To unmount the ISO file, simply right-click on the mounted volume and select “Unmount” from the context menu.

Method 3: Using the Furius ISO Mount Tool

Furius ISO Mount is a graphical tool that allows you to mount and unmount ISO files in Linux. Here’s how to use it:

  1. Install the Furius ISO Mount tool by running the following command in a terminal:
sudo apt-get install furiusisomount
  1. Launch the Furius ISO Mount tool from the Applications menu.
  2. Click the “Open” button and select the ISO file you want to mount.
  3. Click the “Mount” button to mount the ISO file. The mounted volume will be displayed in the tool’s main window.
  4. To unmount the ISO file, select the mounted volume in the tool’s main window and click the “Unmount” button.

Conclusion

Mounting ISO files in Linux is a simple and straightforward process that can be done using various methods. The mount command is a powerful utility that allows you to mount ISO files from the command line, while the GNOME Disk Image Mounter and Furius ISO Mount tools provide graphical interfaces for mounting and unmounting ISO files. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you should be able to mount and access the contents of any ISO file in Linux.

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