Overview
sync flushes all pending changes (e.g., write operations) in the file system buffers to disk immediately. This helps prevent data loss in case of system crashes or unexpected power failures.
Key Features
- Forces writing data from memory buffers to physical disk
- Ensures data integrity
- Prevents data loss before system shutdown/reboot
Key Options
The sync command is typically used without arguments to synchronize all buffers. The following are common options supported by most GNU/Linux systems.
General Options
Generated command:
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Description:
`sync` Executes the command.
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Usage Examples
The sync command is primarily used in conjunction with other system administration tasks.
Synchronize All Buffers
syncThe most common usage, flushing all file system buffers to disk.
Sync Before Rebooting
sync; rebootSafely writes all data to disk before rebooting the system.
Sync Before Removing USB Drive
sync; umount /mnt/usbEnsures all write operations are completed before physically removing a USB drive to prevent data corruption.
Tips & Considerations
While the sync command is important for enhancing data integrity, there are a few points to consider.
Points to Consider
- Most modern Linux systems automatically synchronize data in most cases, reducing the need for manual sync execution.
- sync does not guarantee flushing data to hardware caches (e.g., disk controller caches). This depends on the disk's own cache settings.
- Executing it before system shutdown or reboot helps prevent unexpected data loss, especially crucial in server environments.