howto run a script when a USB device is pluged in

[Carlos Santiago]

This explains how you could run a script made by you (say /usr/local/my_script) when you plug a specific USB device.

1. First run lsusb to identify your device. Example:
$lsusb
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 040a:0576 Kodak Co.
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 0000:0000

2. After doing this you know that
- the vendor ID of your device is 040a
- the product ID of your device is 0576

3. Now is time to create your UDEV rule:

sudo nano /etc/udev/rules.d/85-my_rule.rules

4. And add the text

ACTION=="add", SUBSYSTEM=="usb_device", SYSFS{idVendor}=="040a", SYSFS{idProduct}=="0576", RUN+="/usr/local/my_script"

Explanation:
When the usb_device product identified as 0576 of vendor 040a is added, run /usr/local/my_script
Note that '==' and "!=" are comparators, while = and += are assingments

[frodon]

Excelent guide thanks for sharing, will test and spread this, many of my friends were looking for such a thing, it is really usefull to automount you external drives with the good rights and especially if it's a NTFS drives and that you want to mount it with write support.

[reclusivemonkey]

No offence to your excellent guide, but there is a much easier way. Simply make an executable script called autorun in the root drive of your USB flash drive. Then in the "Removable Drives and Media" preferences, make sure you tick the entry to automatically run scripts on plugging them in (sorry I am at work and can't see the exact wording, but it should be obvious which one it is). You're done! I've always wanted to do this, but frankly couldn't be bothered with poking around with udev; this is Ubuntu after all

[Carlos Santiago]

Reclusivemonkey, seems to me that you didn't notice one small, however very important, thing!
This procedure is generic and works with ANY usb device. For example I use it to configure and start my internet connection when I plug in my UMTS modem.

[reclusivemonkey]

Reclusivemonkey, seems to me that you didn't notice one small, however very important, thing!
This procedure is generic and works with ANY usb device. For example I use it to configure and start my internet connection when I plug in my UMTS modem.

That's very true, please accept my apologies.

But don't you think people will be interested in the USB flash way as well? I am sure plenty of people would like a quick and easy way of running scripts when they plug in their USB drives; especially for syncing.

[map84]

Reclusivemonkey, seems to me that you didn't notice one small, however very important, thing!
This procedure is generic and works with ANY usb device. For example I use it to configure and start my internet connection when I plug in my UMTS modem.

is this also working with a pcmcia-umts-card?
Could you provide me with your internet-connection-script, please?
Thank you!

[wtstommy]

I am trying to follow this guide to run a automatic backup script when mounting my Android phone. Here is my udev rule:

ACTION=="add", KERNEL=="sd?1", SYSFS{serial}=="040363260701200E", RUN+="/usr/local/bin/backupDroid.sh"

It sort of works. It runs the script. But it waits for the script to finish running BEFORE it mounts the device, which of course is not really helpful. Ideas?

[Carlos Santiago]

wtstommy, like I said in post #6 add the SYMLINK to your rule. Something like

ACTION=="add", KERNEL=="sd?1", SYSFS{serial}=="040363260701200E", RUN+="/usr/local/bin/backupDroid.sh",SYMLINK+="android_phone"

When you plug it, your device should be accessible in /dev/android_phone.

Then you should be able to mount it with:

sudo mkdir /mnt/android
sudo mount /dev/android_phone /mnt/android

The directory that will be the mount point of your device (in this case /mnt/android), you only need to create once.

If you need to define the file system, try:

sudo mount -t vfat /dev/android_phone /mnt/android

If the mount works, add the mount line in the beginning of your script.

[wtstommy]

I found the answer to my question. You have to "detach" the executed script. I found out how to do that here: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1098089

[restart]

Just tried to write the same rule for my SD Card reader when I plug the correct SD card into it.

ACTION=="add", BUS=="pci", ATTRS{idVendor}=="fc30", ATTRS{idProduct}=="3da9", RUN+="/home/pechenie/.bin/photobackup.py"

Why pci? Coz:

# lspci | grep SD
0a:09.2 Mass storage controller: Texas Instruments 5-in-1 Multimedia Card Reader (SD/MMC/MS/MS PRO/xD)

Also, idVendor:idProduct got from automouting folder:

/media/FC30-3DA9/

And finally:

# fdisk -l
Disk /dev/mmcblk0: 3999 MB, 3999268864 bytes
82 heads, 17 sectors/track, 5603 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 1394 * 512 = 713728 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00000000

        Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/mmcblk0p1               6        5604     3901440    b  W95 FAT32

Any suggestions?