dmesg to find usb key in Linux?

Question

What exactly I must look for after a dmesg comand to find usb key? there are lots of entries with usb in them but which one?

Solution

Try this:

tail -f /var/log/dmesg

This will output the contents of dmesg as it happens. While you have this running, plug your USB memory stick in and note what it says. If you get heaps of non-related stuff, try this:

tail -f /var/log/dmesg | grep USB

This will only show lines containing the word USB. Use Ctrl + C to exit.

There is another answer here to a related question.

Comments

[don_crissti]

What are you trying to accomplish ?

[vuejs]

I need the device nameof my usb so I can install Debian on it.

[don_crissti]

... run lsblk -no name,label,tran before and after inserting your key

[vuejs]

@don_crissti lsblk worked, thanks, just need to see where it is in dmesg.

[dirkt]

Note however that grepping will remove all context that doesn't contain the word USB (in caps), and often this context is important. Once you've identified the place where interesting things happen, always look at the complete dmesg output at the appropriate place. (less has a search function).

[dirkt]

Why use watch (executes every 2 seconds) instead of tail -f (executes when the output changes)?

[GAD3R]

@dirkt You should be root to access the log file /var/log/

[dirkt]

So use sudo. You are doing admin work, you need root access, anyway.

[Jacob Degeling]

You are right: less is a much better way if you need to keep context information.