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Sparse files

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Introduction[edit]

Wikipedia notes: [1]

In computer science, a sparse file is a type of computer file that attempts to use file system space more efficiently when the file itself is partially empty. This is achieved by writing brief information (metadata) representing the empty blocks to disk instead of the actual "empty" space which makes up the block, using less disk space. The full block size is written to disk as the actual size only when the block contains "real" (non-empty) data.

When reading sparse files, the file system transparently converts metadata representing empty blocks into "real" blocks filled with null bytes at runtime. The application is unaware of this conversion.

Check Real Size[edit]

You must change directory into the correct folder first. For your home folder. Depending on which one you want to check. 

cd ~

Or. 

cd /var/lib/libvirt/images/

Run. 

du -h Whonix-Gateway-*.qcow2

Should show something like this.

2.5G Whonix-Gateway-*.qcow2

Check Apparent Size[edit]

Run. 

du -h --apparent-size Whonix-Gateway-*.qcow2

Should show something like this.

101G Whonix-Gateway-*.qcow2

Also See[edit]

Maybe interesting:

Footnotes[edit]

  1. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sparse_file [archive]

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