Linux in a Nutshell, 6th Edition

Name

badblocks

Synopsis

badblocks [options] deviceblock-count

System administration command. Search device for bad blocks. You must specify the number of blocks on the device (block-count). e2fsck and mke2fs will invoke badblocks automatically when given the -c option.

Options

-b blocksize

Expect blocksize-byte blocks.

-c blocksize

Test blocksize-byte blocks at a time. Default is 16.

-e number

Abort test after finding specified number of blocks.

-f

Force a read/write or nondestructive write test on a mounted device. Use only when /etc/mtab incorrectly reports a device as mounted.

-i file

Skip test of known bad blocks listed in file.

-n

Perform a nondestructive test by writing to each block and then reading back from it while preserving data.

-o file

Direct output to file.

-p number

Repeat search of device until no new bad blocks have been found in number passes. Default is 0.

-s

Show block numbers as they are checked.

-t pattern

Test blocks by reading and writing the specified pattern. You may specify pattern as a positive integer or as the word random. If you specify multiple patterns, badblocks tests all blocks with one pattern, and then tests all blocks again with the next pattern. Read-only mode accepts only one pattern. It does not accept random.

-v

Verbose mode.

-w

Test by writing to each block and then reading back from it. This option will destroy data. Don’t use it on devices that contain filesystems.