The gnome-mount package contains programs for mounting, unmounting and ejecting storage devices. the goal for gnome-mount is to get the appropriate gnome software (such as gnome-volume-manager and gnomevfs) to use his method instead of invoking mount/umount/eject or direct hal invoking methods.

all the gnome-mount programs utilize the methods on hal and as such run unprivileged. the rationale for gnome-mount is to have a centralized place (in gconf) where settings (e.g. mount options and mount locations) are maintained.

a nautilus extension allows to easily change the mount options which can be user, drive or volume specific.