How to Quickly Create a Large File on Linux

Creating large files efficiently on Linux can be crucial, especially for testing purposes like simulating disk usage or creating virtual machine (VM) images. While tools like dd are commonly used, they can be slow. Here’s a breakdown of faster methods to create large files, avoiding slow disk writes while ensuring the file is allocated on the disk.

1. Using fallocate (Best Choice for Most Cases)

The fallocate command is the fastest way to create large files, as it allocates the required disk space without initializing or writing data. This method ensures that the entire space is reserved without wasting time.

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