# automount > Read the `/etc/auto_master` file and mount `autofs` on the appropriate mount points to trigger the on-demand mounting of directories. Essentially, it's a way to manually initiate the system's automounting process. > Note: You'll most likely need to run with `sudo` if you don't have the necessary permissions. > More information: . - Run automount, flush the cache(`-c`) beforehand, and be verbose(`-v`) about it (most common use): `automount -cv` - Automatically unmount after 5 minutes (300 seconds) of inactivity: `automount -t 300` - Unmount anything previously mounted by automount and/or defined in `/etc/auto_master`: `automount -u`