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I am running macOS High Sierra 10.13.6. When I look for /etc/fstab file, I found /etc/fstab.hd file (no /etc/fstab file was present), and the file content says IGNORE THIS FILE.

But when I google, there are many articles still talking about /etc/fstab such as this link. So should I create and use /etc/fstab file? If it's not recommended, what is the recommended config file then?

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afaik, fstab doesn't exist by default. You have to create one, first time.

From your linked instructions...

7) Edit (or create) an fstab file by typing the following and pressing enter:
sudo vifs

Will do precisely that, edit - or create - an fstab file.
Once you've got it set up, it ought to work as expected. I have mine set with ACLs so it will let me edit it without jumping through hoops every time. iirc, by default it's set to root/wheel.

fstab.hd seems to be a red herring, but no amount of Googling has turned up what it is or was used for :/

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    thanks a lot for the answer. so does it mean /etc/fstab is safe to be used in macos? I am just afraid it's not a recommended way.
    – sgon00
    Commented Aug 4, 2018 at 6:45
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    It's absolutely fine, once you've got it set up.
    – Tetsujin
    Commented Aug 4, 2018 at 6:50
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    I use it so clones, boot camp & spare drives don't auto-mount at boot.
    – Tetsujin
    Commented Aug 6, 2018 at 6:23
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    How do you specify a mount point containing spaces? I want to mount a separate drive to /Users/davec/Music/iTunes/iTunes Media/Music and have failed with all three methods, soft quotes, hard quotes, and escapes.
    – tgunr
    Commented Apr 4, 2019 at 2:09
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    @tgunr - that would be best asked as a separate question, link back to this one for context if needed.
    – Tetsujin
    Commented Apr 4, 2019 at 6:17

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