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losetup:tldr:c983f

losetup: Attach a file to a read-only loop device.
$ sudo losetup --read-only /dev/${loop} /${filename}
try on your machine

This command is used to set up a loop device with read-only access to a file in Linux.

Here's a breakdown of the command:

  • sudo: This is a command that allows the user to execute commands with administrative or "superuser" privileges.
  • losetup: This command is used to set up and control loop devices in Linux.
  • --read-only: This option specifies that the loop device should be opened in read-only mode, meaning that the file it is associated with cannot be modified.
  • /dev/${loop}: This represents the path of the loop device. The ${loop} variable is typically used to specify a specific loop device. For example, /dev/loop0, /dev/loop1, etc.
  • /${filename}: This specifies the file that will be associated with the loop device. The ${filename} variable is typically used to specify the name or path of the file.

Overall, this command creates a loop device (/dev/${loop}) that is read-only and associates it with the specified file (/${filename}). This can be useful for accessing files as block devices, performing operations on disk images, or maintaining the integrity of the file by preventing modifications.

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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