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    cp /dev/sda /dev/sdb or (pv /dev/sda > /dev/sdb to get a progress bar) would be a lot quicker. Why would you use dd here? dd would only be useful with things like conv=sync,noerror to handle disks with errors, but even then it would make more sense to use things like ddrescue instead (see also pv's -E option). Commented Nov 10, 2016 at 9:27
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    @StéphaneChazelas cat may be even quicker but the difference isn't that dramatic (maybe bigger for device-to-device than file-to-file as in my experiment). Commented Nov 10, 2016 at 12:44
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    "I have tried the same on a Unix system" - So on what type of system did you try the first, if not a Unix? Also, what hardware, etc, yaddayadda. Commented Nov 10, 2016 at 13:13
  • Welcome to dd pitfall #1 Commented Nov 10, 2016 at 15:32
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    Used the first in HP-UX (Integrity blade) and earlier used Solaris machine as well. Commented Nov 11, 2016 at 4:15