Copying Device Content with dd

Category: Linux Redhat9 Tips

Linux/Unix has a program called dd (device dump?). dd does low-level data transfer. It doesn't care of the file-sytem of source and target devices.
That's why this program mostly used for duplication or imaging storage-devices.
Since dd will replace any existing data on target device, you must use this usefull tool very carefully.

I show you some example below.
Please do not run those commands, unless you know exactly what you do.

To duplicate hda(harddisk1) to (harddisk2)
$ dd if=/dev/hda bs=4k of=/dev/hdb

To make image file of hda(harddisk1) to /mnt/myfolder/myimagedisk.img
$ $ dd if=/dev/hda bs=4k of=/mnt/myfolder/myimagedisk.img


For me, dd is regularly used for imaging my SanDisk FlashDisk. It is a nice tool!
Before you use dd, please read man dd or info dd first.

p.s.: I am learning using mail-to-blogger facility. Not smooth.. so I repost through web..:(