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Clone SD Card in Linux

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Cloning an SD card in Linux involves creating an exact copy of the entire SD card, including its partitions and data. This can be done using tools like dd, gnome-disks, or Etcher. Below are the steps for each method:

Method 1: Using dd (Command Line)

dd is a powerful command-line tool for copying and converting data at a low level.

Steps:

  1. Insert the SD Card:

    • Insert the SD card into your computer's card reader.

  2. Identify the SD Card:

    • Run the following command to list all storage devices:
      lsblk
    • Identify your SD card (e.g., /dev/sdX or /dev/mmcblk0). Be careful to choose the correct device, as dd can overwrite data irreversibly.

  3. Unmount the SD Card:

    • Unmount all partitions on the SD card:
      sudo umount /dev/sdX1
sudo umount /dev/sdX2
      Replace /dev/sdX1 and /dev/sdX2 with the actual partition names.

  4. Clone the SD Card:

    • Use dd to clone the SD card to an image file or directly to another SD card.

    Option 1: Clone to an Image File:

    sudo dd if=/dev/sdX of=sd_card_backup.img bs=4M status=progress
    • if=/dev/sdX: Input file (source SD card).
    • of=sd_card_backup.img: Output file (image file).
    • bs=4M: Block size (improves speed).
    • status=progress: Shows progress.

    Option 2: Clone Directly to Another SD Card:

    sudo dd if=/dev/sdX of=/dev/sdY bs=4M status=progress
    • Replace /dev/sdX with the source SD card and /dev/sdY with the target SD card.

  5. Verify the Clone:

    • After cloning, verify the data integrity:
      sudo dd if=/dev/sdX bs=4M | sha256sum
sudo dd if=/dev/sdY bs=4M | sha256sum
    • Compare the SHA256 checksums to ensure they match.

  6. Eject the SD Card:

    • Safely eject the SD card:
      sudo eject /dev/sdX

Method 2: Using gnome-disks (Graphical Interface)

gnome-disks is a user-friendly graphical tool for managing disks and partitions.

Steps:

  1. Install gnome-disks (if not already installed):

    sudo apt install gnome-disk-utility

  2. Open gnome-disks:

    • Launch gnome-disks from your application menu or by running:
      gnome-disks

  3. Select the Source SD Card:

    • In the left panel, select the source SD card.

  4. Create a Disk Image:

    • Click the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the top-right corner and select Create Disk Image.
    • Choose a location to save the image file (e.g., sd_card_backup.img).

  5. Restore the Disk Image:

    • Insert the target SD card.
    • Select the target SD card in gnome-disks.
    • Click the menu button and select Restore Disk Image.
    • Choose the image file you created earlier and restore it to the target SD card.

  6. Eject the SD Card:

    • Safely eject the SD card after the process is complete.

Method 3: Using Etcher (Graphical Interface)

Etcher is a cross-platform tool for flashing and cloning SD cards.

Steps:

  1. Install Etcher:

  2. Launch Etcher:

    • Open Etcher from your application menu.

  3. Select the Source SD Card:

    • Click Flash from file and select the source SD card or an existing image file.

  4. Select the Target SD Card:

    • Insert the target SD card and select it in Etcher.

  5. Start the Cloning Process:

    • Click Flash to start cloning the SD card.

  6. Eject the SD Card:

    • Once the process is complete, safely eject the SD card.

Method 4: Using cat (Command Line)

cat can also be used to clone an SD card, though it lacks progress reporting.

Steps:

  1. Identify the SD Card:

    • Use lsblk to identify the source and target SD cards.

  2. Unmount the SD Card:

    • Unmount all partitions on the SD card:
      sudo umount /dev/sdX1
sudo umount /dev/sdX2

  3. Clone the SD Card:

    • Use cat to clone the SD card:
      sudo cat /dev/sdX > /dev/sdY
    • Replace /dev/sdX with the source SD card and /dev/sdY with the target SD card.

  4. Eject the SD Card:

    • Safely eject the SD card:
      sudo eject /dev/sdX

Tips:

  • Backup Data: Always back up important data before cloning.
  • Check SD Card Size: Ensure the target SD card is at least as large as the source SD card.
  • Use a Fast Card Reader: For faster cloning, use a high-quality USB card reader.

By following these steps, you can easily clone an SD card in Linux using your preferred method.

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