losetup:tldr:30dd2

losetup: Attach a file to a new free loop device and scan the device for partitions.

losetup

$ sudo losetup --show --partscan -f /${filename}

try on your machine

The command sudo losetup --show --partscan -f /${filename} is used to create a loop device and associate it with a specified file or block device.

Here's a breakdown of the command:

sudo: This command allows you to execute the subsequent command with administrative privileges.
losetup: It is a command used to set up and control loop devices, which allow you to treat a file as a block device.
--show: This option is used to make losetup display the loop device name when it is successfully set up.
--partscan: This option tells losetup to try to scan the specified file or block device for all possible partitions and associate each partition with a separate loop device.
-f: This option instructs losetup to find the first available loop device for association.
/${filename}: This specifies the path to the file or block device you want to associate with the loop device. You need to replace ${filename} with the actual location of the file.

The command essentially creates a loop device from the specified file or block device, associates it with a loop device file (e.g., /dev/loop0), and lists the loop device file created. The --partscan option additionally scans for partitions within the specified file or block device and associates each partition with a separate loop device file.

This explanation was created by an AI. In most cases those are correct. But please always be careful and never run a command you are not sure if it is safe.

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