[Linux-users] Mini rant: sda vs hda

[Bill Campbell]

On Sat, Sep 01, 2007, Collins Richey wrote:
>On 8/31/07, Sean Keating <sean at csupport.com> wrote:
>> The problem will be apparent when you try to plug in an external, USB
>> device (like a USB hard drive.)  It will also be an "sb" device and will
>> not unmount easily. Some devices work fine, others don't.  I use Feisty,
>> and I like it a lot, but it took me a while to figure this one out.
>>
>> Also, let me warn you.  Notice that in fstab your drive is mounted by
>> its UUID not its device. (This probably has something to do with why its
>> sda instead of hda.)  I use gparted to periodically duplicate my drive
>> to an external USB drive as a backup.  If I forget to assign it a new
>> UUID and plug it in, it hides my actual drive.
>>
>
>The principal reason for using UUID as the boot identifier is to
>eliminate the vagaries of device numbering inherent in the bios when
>new devices are added to the system, exactly the type of problem you
>are alluding to. The UUID is always (supposed to be?) unique whereas
>/dev/[h|s]da can change.

I can understand that.  Now is there any comprehensible documentation on
how to set/use UUID?

Bill
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