How to use the command 'mlabel' (with examples)

The mlabel command is used to set an MS-DOS volume label for FAT and VFAT filesystems. It allows you to assign a name to a filesystem for easy identification. This command is particularly useful when working with external storage devices such as USB drives or memory cards.

Use case 1: Set a filesystem label

Code:

mlabel -i /dev/sda ::"new_label"

Motivation: Setting a filesystem label is useful when you want to identify a specific drive or partition. By assigning a label, you can easily differentiate between multiple storage devices connected to your system.

Explanation:

• mlabel: This is the command itself.
• -i /dev/sda: Specifies the device on which the filesystem label should be set.
• ::"new_label": The new label to assign to the filesystem. The :: indicates that the label is for the root directory of the filesystem.

Example output:

Volume label for /dev/sda successfully set to "new_label".

Conclusion: The mlabel command provides a straightforward way to set a filesystem label, making it easier to identify specific drives or partitions.