Comments on: Creating sparse files on Linux hosts with dd http://prefetch.net/blog/index.php/2009/07/05/creating-sparse-files-on-linux-hosts-with-dd/ Blog O' Matty Tue, 07 Feb 2012 02:31:44 +0000 hourly 1 By: mark http://prefetch.net/blog/index.php/2009/07/05/creating-sparse-files-on-linux-hosts-with-dd/comment-page-1/#comment-830538 mark Wed, 29 Jun 2011 21:38:18 +0000 http://prefetch.net/blog/?p=2416#comment-830538 In order to copy an existing partition device (or zcat a compressed disk image) but make the output sparse, you can do something like this: cat /dev/sda3 | cp --sparse=always /dev/stdin sparse_sda3_copy.img In order to copy an existing partition device (or zcat a compressed disk image) but make the output sparse, you can do something like this:

cat /dev/sda3 | cp –sparse=always /dev/stdin sparse_sda3_copy.img

]]> By: slydog http://prefetch.net/blog/index.php/2009/07/05/creating-sparse-files-on-linux-hosts-with-dd/comment-page-1/#comment-830287 slydog Wed, 09 Mar 2011 21:31:49 +0000 http://prefetch.net/blog/?p=2416#comment-830287 Thank you for posting this. You close your post with the comment, "Sparse files are extremely handy, though it’s important to know when and when not to use them." What are your thoughts on when not to use sparse files. I would consider performance and ensuring capacity as two reasons. I'm curious if you had other thoughts. Thank you for posting this. You close your post with the comment, “Sparse files are extremely handy, though it’s important to know when and when not to use them.” What are your thoughts on when not to use sparse files.

I would consider performance and ensuring capacity as two reasons. I’m curious if you had other thoughts.

]]> By: no http://prefetch.net/blog/index.php/2009/07/05/creating-sparse-files-on-linux-hosts-with-dd/comment-page-1/#comment-829497 no Sat, 31 Jul 2010 17:53:16 +0000 http://prefetch.net/blog/?p=2416#comment-829497 "you can use dd to verify" -> "you can use du to verify" “you can use dd to verify” -> “you can use du to verify”

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