"File Not Found": Troubleshooting /usr/share/google/safe_format_and_mount on New Google Cloud Instances
Problem: You're setting up a new Google Cloud instance, but you encounter an error when trying to format and mount a persistent disk: the /usr/share/google/safe_format_and_mount script is missing. This prevents you from properly configuring your storage.
Rephrased: Imagine you're building a house, and you need a special tool to assemble the foundation. But when you go to find it, it's not in the toolbox! That's essentially what's happening with the /usr/share/google/safe_format_and_mount script. It's a vital tool for preparing your Google Cloud instance's storage, but it's missing, causing problems with your setup.
Scenario:
Let's say you're launching a new Ubuntu instance on Google Cloud. You want to use a persistent disk for your data, so you attach it to your instance. When you try to format and mount the disk, you encounter the following error:
$ sudo mkfs.ext4 /dev/sdX
mount: /dev/sdX: wrong fs type, bad option, bad superblock on /dev/sdX, missing codepage or helper program, or other error
Further investigation reveals that the /usr/share/google/safe_format_and_mount script, responsible for correctly preparing persistent disks, is absent.
Analysis:
This issue is often encountered when using custom images or pre-configured instances that haven't been properly configured for Google Cloud's storage management. The /usr/share/google/safe_format_and_mount script is part of the Google Cloud SDK, which ensures proper formatting and mounting of persistent disks for security and performance.
Solutions:
- Install the Google Cloud SDK: The simplest solution is to install the full Google Cloud SDK on your instance. This will include the
/usr/share/google/safe_format_and_mountscript, along with other useful tools for managing your Google Cloud resources.
sudo apt update
sudo apt install google-cloud-sdk
- Copy the script manually: If you only need the script itself, you can download it from the Google Cloud SDK repository and copy it to the correct location:
- Download the
safe_format_and_mountscript from https://github.com/GoogleCloudPlatform/google-cloud-sdk/blob/master/google-cloud-sdk/lib/googlecloudsdk/compute/instances/safe_format_and_mount.sh - Save the file as
safe_format_and_mount.sh - Create the directory
/usr/share/googleif it doesn't exist - Move the script to the correct location:
sudo mv safe_format_and_mount.sh /usr/share/google/ sudo chmod +x /usr/share/google/safe_format_and_mount.sh
- Use Google's provided script: Google Cloud provides a simplified script for formatting and mounting persistent disks:
sudo /usr/share/google/safe_format_and_mount -d /dev/sdX -f ext4
Additional Notes:
- Always ensure you have the necessary permissions (root access or sudo privileges) to run commands related to formatting and mounting disks.
- Google Cloud's official documentation on persistent disks and their management is a valuable resource for understanding best practices and troubleshooting issues: https://cloud.google.com/compute/docs/disks/
- Consider using Google Cloud's managed disk options, such as Persistent Disk, which automate formatting and mounting and ensure proper configuration.
By following these steps, you'll be able to address the "File Not Found" error, fix the storage issue, and get your Google Cloud instance up and running smoothly.
