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While copying files from a Linux server to external hard drive, it shows the error message

insufficient space in hard disk

The hard disk is 2TB and the copying data size is 460GB. Why does it shows the error message anyway?

Updates:

  • I formatted the hard disk as FAT.
  • While I was using NTFS, the hard disk couldn't get mounted by server.
  • I used this command to copy cp -rp /data/dms/home/docs/run/media/root/movell/backup.
  • Now I use the normal method of copying file to hard disk. It also shows the same error.
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9
  • 5
    Because there is not enough room on the 2Tb disk. Show us the layout of the disk (df -H) by adding it to the question.
    – Rinzwind
    Jun 23, 2016 at 6:59
  • There is no data in the hard disk. Its properties shows it has 2 tb space
    – Shyam Sundar
    Jun 23, 2016 at 7:02
  • 4
    I see no proof of that.
    – Rinzwind
    Jun 23, 2016 at 7:03
  • 3
    What is the disk formatted as?
    – mchid
    Jun 23, 2016 at 7:08
  • My guess is the drive is formatted as FAT or something weird ;) and simply allows no file sizes over 4GB.
    – Videonauth
    Jun 23, 2016 at 7:09

1 Answer 1

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5

Well as I guessed you formatted the Hard drive as FAT, which in fact does not allow you file sizes above 4 GB, so either you chop up the data you want to archive, or format it to something more suitable.

If you not need to access this HDD on a Windows machine you could simply go for formatting the drive as ext4 (Linux format). Gparted allows you to do this with ease.

As well what could be the cause of errors are typos. so make sure you recheck the paths you typed in.

If you need indeed to access this drive in a Windows machine you can use exFAT or ntfs. For mounting it then in Linux you need to install exfat-fuse and ntfs-3g by:

sudo apt-get install exfat* ntfs*

Then you should be able to use bigger file sizes and still mount your drive onto your server.

So to mount use the usual you would use with a FAT drive. The sdX should match your actual drive letters.

sudo mkdir -p /mnt/external
sudo mount /dev/sdX /mnt/external

If that really does not suffice then explicitly define the file-system

sudo mount -t ntfs /dev/sdX /mnt/external
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8
  • I need this HDD access in Windows Machine.
    – Shyam Sundar
    Jun 23, 2016 at 7:31
  • Now i copy the file using normal method.Then also it shows same error
    – Shyam Sundar
    Jun 23, 2016 at 7:32
  • 1
    @ShyamSundar format the disk as ntfs, that should solve it.
    – terdon
    Jun 23, 2016 at 7:33
  • Updated my answer for including ntfs and exFAT support.
    – Videonauth
    Jun 23, 2016 at 7:34
  • when I use ntfs format the server couldn't mount the disk
    – Shyam Sundar
    Jun 23, 2016 at 7:34

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