KNOWING how to properly use the "dd" command.

[chessie]

Does anyone have any information regarding where I can find a good, understandable tutorial on how to use the "dd" command for transferring a file to an SD card? To eMMC bulk storage, if that's possible?

There are plenty of good "type this in" code examples** in these forums; what I'd like to see somewhere--anywhere--is a "dd For Dummies" kind of tutorial (I know how to check the 'dd' man page--absolutely NOT what I'm asking for).

Thanks, in advance, to anyone who knows of a good, understandable-by-anyone source (again: anywhere) of "dd"-use information.


**There are also several examples of users' failures, because they didn't / don't have access to the type of tutorial I'm asking about. Again: many thanks.

[chessie]

Having not gotten any replies to my previous request, I assumed that it was because most people are as 'in the dark' as I am was.
So...I went on a search, and found some really good tutorials on "dd". I have reproduced a small portion of it here in the hopes that it will be of benefit to all. Remember one thing: "dd" is very powerful--and, like all very powerful tools, it is very dangerous; BUT...you should be absolutely safe with the knowledge you'll gain from the following...and be much more of a true Linux expert.


Do this: type
"use of the linux "dd"command” ,
or something similar, into your search engine for more examples. The following are a few examples from using DuckDuckGo--

[“...The full documentation for "dd" is maintained as a Texinfo manual. If the info and dd programs are properly installed at your site, the command info dd [in the terminal] should give you access to the complete manual.”--from one of the sources here.]
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Use Linux DD Command to make ISO Bootable on USB Drive
Tim Beach; May 6, 2018
https://medium.com/@tbeach/use-unix-dd-c...71945d95a6

Linux dd command explained for beginners (8 examples) [some not-so-common, but valuable uses.]
HowtoForge--
https://www.howtoforge.com/linux-dd-command/

Full Metal Backup Using the dd Command;  Linux.com
https://www.linux.com/learn/full-metal-b...dd-command --
“...The first thing you absolutely must know is that reversing the arguments within a dd command can lead to erasing all of your precious data. To that end, you must use caution when working with this tool. Make sure to know the location and names of both your source and your target...”

How to clone disks with Linux dd command
HowtoForge
https://www.howtoforge.com/tutorial/linu...l-example/

How to use dd in Linux without destroying your disk---Safely and reliably make perfect copies of drives, partitions, and filesystems with the Linux dd tool.
opensource.com   05 July 2018
https://opensource.com/article/18/7/how-use-dd-linux

[MECZero]

Thanks for sharing this. Until recently, I had never even heard of the dd command, but now have used it many times.

This will be very helpful for new comers.

[chessie]

Thanks for sharing this. Until recently, I had never even heard of the dd command, but now have used it many times.

This will be very helpful for new comers.

I'm glad you found this informative and useful; "dd" is one of those really good commands that doesn't get enough exposure. I mainly (99.99 %) use it to make bootable USB flash drives of Linux "-.iso" files I've downloaded. Works every time, and not nearly as finicky as 'unetbootin', for example (the downloaded file has to be an "iso" file). All you have to know is

1) the filename and location
2) the 'target' device (where you're writing to--'sdb', for example)
3) how careful you need to be, with everything dealing with the use of "dd" (this is probably the reason a lot of people don't use it).

[See my next "add-on" post]

---

I am posting this to show how easy the use of ""dd" is (you don't really have to use a lot of options after the basic command), and for showing how important its use is cosidered--by one of the world's top distro designers:


The following is taken from Klaus Knopper's introduction of Knoppix v. 8.5, in "Linux Magazin".

"KNOPPIX 8.5.0 Linux Magazin Release"

http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/knoppix850-en.html  --

"... With the new Hybrid layout of the ISO file, the file can be copied directly to USB flash disk, either using standard Linux tools like..."dd"...

Example:

Code:

dd if=KNOPPIX_V8.5-2019-02-10-EN.iso of=/dev/sdb bs=1M

[chessie]

This gets asked quite a bit, so just in case you haven't figured it out--regarding the "dd" command--

"if"    means (stands for) "input file", and

"of"   means (stands for) "output file".



Never stop learning.

[erchache2000]

Hi Chessie, you can use balena etcher to burn .iso disk image installer to sd card. https://www.balena.io/etcher/

Once you can boot from sd card, update system, configure at your needs and reboot.

When you finished to configure your system from sd card, you are be able to transfer from sd card to emmc using dd comand.