Limitations
Seagate documentation warns, "Certain disc utilities, such as DD, which depend on low-level disc access may not support 48-bit LBAs until they are updated." Using ATA harddrives over 128 GiB requires 48-bit LBA. However, in Linux, dd uses the kernel to read or write to raw device files. Support for 48-bit LBA has been present since version 2.4.23 of the kernel, released in 2003.
It is jokingly said that dd stands for "disk destroyer", "data destroyer", "death and destruction", "damn dangerous", or "delete data", since when used for low-level operations on hard disks, a small mistake, such as reversing the if and of (input file and output file) parameters, could result in the loss of some or all data on a disk.
Read more about this topic: Dd (Unix)
Famous quotes containing the word limitations:
“Much of what contrives to create critical moments in parenting stems from a fundamental misunderstanding as to what the child is capable of at any given age. If a parent misjudges a child’s limitations as well as his own abilities, the potential exists for unreasonable expectations, frustration, disappointment and an unrealistic belief that what the child really needs is to be punished.”
—Lawrence Balter (20th century)
“The only rules comedy can tolerate are those of taste, and the only limitations those of libel.”
—James Thurber (1894–1961)
“No man could bring himself to reveal his true character, and, above all, his true limitations as a citizen and a Christian, his true meannesses, his true imbecilities, to his friends, or even to his wife. Honest autobiography is therefore a contradiction in terms: the moment a man considers himself, even in petto, he tries to gild and fresco himself.”
—H.L. (Henry Lewis)