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Date: Mon, 30 Jun 2014 13:07:45 -0600 (MDT)
From: Warren Block <wblock@wonkity.com>
To: Bertram Scharpf <lists@bertram-scharpf.de>,
 Chris Kelley <mail@thechriskelley.com>
Subject: Re: Mount: /dev/da0: Operation not permitted
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On Mon, 30 Jun 2014, Bertram Scharpf wrote:

> On Monday, 30. Jun 2014, 10:32:57 -0700,, Chris Kelley wrote:
>> # mount -t ufs /dev/da0 /mnt/vault
>> mount: /dev/da0: Operation not permitted
>
> The first block of 512 bytes is used for partition information and may
> not be overwritten by any file system.

Usually more than that, depending on the type of partitioning scheme. 
But devices can be formatted without being partitioned.  The commands 
shown earlier suggest that is the case with this drive.

> Do the partitioning,

Preserving the data on the drive is probably a goal.

For the OP: might something be different in the environment where the 
drive is to be mounted?  Maybe securelevel, or chflags of some type set 
on the mountpoint?