REQ: Reading/Mounting DD-image files using C#

[Robertico]

DD is a common Unix program whose primary purpose is the low-level copying
(a byte-exact copy) and conversion of raw data. It's stored in a DD-file
("Dataset Definition")
Is it possible (or ever done) reading or mounting a dd-image file using C#.
I know there are commercial tools available (like Mount Image Pro), but I
want to know if it is possible to do that with c#.

Robertico

 

[Tom Spink]

Hello Robertico,

DD is a common Unix program whose primary purpose is the low-level copying
(a byte-exact copy) and conversion of raw data. It's stored in a DD-file
("Dataset Definition")
Is it possible (or ever done) reading or mounting a dd-image file using C#.
I know there are commercial tools available (like Mount Image Pro), but I
want to know if it is possible to do that with c#.

The output of 'dd' isn't in a specific format - it's in a format that
you've specified by the transform arguments! It is (as you have said) a
byte-for-byte copy. Unless of course you do byte-order conversions.

You are talking about "reading or mounting a dd-image file", but that
question doesn't make sense.

What if I did this:

dd if=/etc/passwd of=~/passwd

Then, the file in ~/passwd would be an exact copy of the file in
/etc/passwd.

But - you can mount this! It's not a disk image! It's just a copy of a
file! You can read it just like you'd read /etc/passwd.

So, the real question is, are you talking about reading a disk image?

 

[Robertico]

Tom,

So, the real question is, are you talking about reading a disk image?

I agree with you. In this case indeed to read a disk image.

Robertico

 

[Tom Spink]

Tom,


I agree with you. In this case indeed to read a disk image.

Robertico

So, firstly, what is the file-system you're trying to read?

 

[Robertico]

So, firstly, what is the file-system you're trying to read?

I this case FAT16 and FAT32. But support for multiple file system would be
nice.

Robertico

 

[Tom Spink]

I this case FAT16 and FAT32. But support for multiple file system would be
nice.

Robertico

Are you interested in reading the contents of the hard-disk image, or
actually mounting that image so that it appears as a drive letter in
Windows?

(Both of which are particularly tricky!)

 

[Robertico]

Are you interested in reading the contents of the hard-disk image, or

actually mounting that image so that it appears as a drive letter in
Windows?

I would like to have direct access to certain files within the image.
- Is the file present in the image ?
- Read the contents of the file.

For mounting an image i can use other tools.

Robertico

 

[Tom Spink]

I would like to have direct access to certain files within the image.
- Is the file present in the image ?
- Read the contents of the file.

For mounting an image i can use other tools.

Robertico

So, you'll actually need to code an implementation of the FAT filesystem
to do this. AFAIK, there's no managed implementation of a FAT driver...
except for this one I've just found:

http://www.andyolivares.com/?page_id=124&lang=en

 

[Robertico]

http://www.andyolivares.com/?page_id=124&lang=en

Looks interesting. Thanks for the link.
I'll see if this is what I seek.

Robertico