Cameron Simpson wrote:
Copying /dev/zero is a fast way to get an arbitrary amount of data (my
standard anecdote involves emptying it, which I did once on an ancient
system). It will be faster than copying a real file since the "read"
part is free. So you do the rm, then:
cat /dev/zero >/mnt/the-drive/ZEROES
On a conventionaly filesystem that will do what you outline.
I like "dd if=/dev/zero of=<drive to be zeroed>". In any case,
you
do not want to do this to a mounted drive. If you cant to use cat to
zero out a partation, try something like "cat /dev/zero > /dev/sde5"
to zero out the 5th partition on drive e.
Mikkel
--
Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons,
for thou art crunchy and taste good with Ketchup!