Linux dd Command- Dump Import Partition Data, bootable device, cmd Example

Tutorials

Linux-commands

Topic

What is Linux dd Command?

Explanation

dd COMMAND:
     dd command is used to dump the data. The data in a file or device or partition can be dumped to another file or device or partition. This command is also used for creating bootable devices.

SYNTAX:
  The Syntax is
     dd [options]

OPTIONS:

-if	Specifies the input device or partition (or) file from which data is to be dumped
-of	Specifies the output device or partition (or) file to which data is to be dumped
-ibs	Specifies how many bytes is to be readed from a input file at a time during the dumping process
-obs	Specifies how many bytes is to be written to the output file at a time during the dumping process
-bs	Specifies how many bytes is to be readed and written at a time during the dumping process
-count=[bytes]	Specifies how many bytes is to be dumped from 'if' to 'of'

EXAMPLE:

To create bootable floppy :
```
dd if=diskboot.img of=/dev/fd0
```
This command creates the bootable floppy.

In above command:

diskboot.img -Is the bootable image

/dev/fd0 -Is a floppy disk
To import the data from one hard-disk to another hard-disk:
```
dd if=/dev/sda of=/dev/sdb
```
In above command:

/dev/sda -Is the hard-disk from which data is dumped

/dev/sdb -Is the hard-disk to which data is dumped
To import the data from one partition to another partition:
```
dd if=/dev/sda1 of=/dev/sda2
```
/dev/sda1 -Is the partition from which data is dumped

/dev/sda2 -Is the partition to which data in /dev/sda1 is dumped
To Specify number of bytes readed and written at a time during dumping:
```
dd if=/dev/sda1 of=/dev/sda2 bs=2100
```
The above command will dump data from /dev/sda1 to /dev/sda2 by reading and writing 2100 bytes at a time.

dd Linux Commands