On Thursday 06 January 2005 16:18, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: >Gene: > >My experience with 'dd' on many UNIX platforms is that it generally > tries not >to make assumptions about block size ,and unless specified, will > generally take >whatever is the device default. The value of the default will often >surprise you.
Which is why it makes a relatively painless tool to determine the current working block size of a tape system. >That being said, I have had my hands bitten by 'dd' enough in the > past that I ALWAYS specify a block size on any transfer using the > tool. Because of the >need for 'dd' to get down and dirty with the tape hardware and the >undeniable >fact that many UNIX implementations handle the subtleties of device > I/O differently, it is almost always a good idea to make sure your > commands know > >exactly what you want done. Block size is a prime example. > >'dd' is one of the original, old-school UNIX commands and make a > good illustration of why UNIX is like an experienced craftsman's > tool: > > A consumer-grade tool is like a ShopSmith (a 1950's era hobbyist >tool), > with lots of bells and whistles, and lots of shields and guards to >keep > the casual user's fingers out of the dangerous areas and away from >sharp > edges (and keep the plaintiff's lawyers out of the vendors > pockets). > I don't have any of those to speak of, and have a slightly odd shaped finger because of their not being enough guarding on my jointer & managed to take about 1/16" worth of skin off. Lucky, really... > A UNIX system is like a blacksmith's shop. The tools ALL have > sharp > > edges and are dangerous for the inexperienced user to be around. > An > > apprentice is expected to be supervised by a master until the > master > > is sure that the apprentice will not cut off something vital. > The master is expected to know what works and what does not and > where to safely make short-cuts. The master generally has several >old > scars that demonstrate gaining that knowledge. > > UNIX has gotten somewhat away from its original roots, where the > standard failure response from a command was to print '?' on the > command line. > >There is still room for improvement. > >Donald L. (Don) Ritchey >Information Technology >Exelon Corporation Point taken Donald, Thanks. -- Cheers, Gene "There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order." -Ed Howdershelt (Author) 99.31% setiathome rank, not too shabby for a WV hillbilly Yahoo.com attorneys please note, additions to this message by Gene Heskett are: Copyright 2004 by Maurice Eugene Heskett, all rights reserved.
