# Attaching a block volume Execute the following commands on your instance to begin utilizing the volume. Substitute `` with your volume's target identifier (such as `vdb`) and replace `` with your preferred directory name for mounting. Format volume (only needed once, e.g, if it's a new volume): ```bash mkfs.ext4 /dev/ ``` Create directory: ```bash mkdir /mnt/ ``` Mount volume: ```bash mount /dev/ /mnt/ ``` Recommended: add volume to `fstab` (this will automatically mount the volume on every system startup): ```bash echo "/dev/ /mnt/ ext4 defaults,nofail 0 0" >> /etc/fstab ``` --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.arkanecloud.com/arkane-cloud/storage/block-volumes/attaching-a-block-volume.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.