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MD5 Checksum Tool

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Kirkx:
Let me add one more detail to Scott's example from the post above. The file LinuxLite.md5sum should apparently only contain one line (which ends with .iso). Do not hit Enter after that line, which would start the second, empty line:


--- Code: ---5fa984d89a71fedf3e90ca19d47b3168  linux-lite-2.0-64bit.iso
## DO NOT START THIS LINE
--- End code ---

Starting that second line will result in the following error:



The error looks harmless but it might be confusing.

Btw, there seems to be some confusion in Linux community about creating/avoiding that second empty line in configuration files, like /etc/fstab. Apparently it might also depend on which text editor is used (in my case it is Gedit).

Scott:
Hi Kirkx


--- Quote ---Yes, the command above returns the md5sum but it won't compare it with the MD5 value usually provided on iso file's download page
--- End quote ---

I agree the GUI does make checking an md5sum easier but for those that are interested here's how to do it from the command line.

Here's the command for the comparison feature

--- Code: ---md5sum -c file.md5
--- End code ---

When using the md5sum command form the terminal just take care to have file.iso and file.md5 in the same folder.


An example with Linux Lite

Download Linux Lite 2.0 to the download folder
The file in the download folder is linux-lite-2.0-64bit.iso

Download md5sum hash for linux-lite-2.0-64bit.iso file to the download folder
Problem, md5sum is listed but can't download it as a file

Solution, create the file yourself, very easy
Open file manager (Thunar), navigate to download folder

Right-click in Downloads folder > Create document > Empty file
I'm naming the file LinuxLite.md5sum but it can be named whatever you like

Double click on the LinuxLite.md5sum file you just created
The blank file opens in the text editor

Copy and paste md5sum number in LinuxLite.md5sum like this
5fa984d89a71fedf3e90ca19d47b3168  linux-lite-2.0-64bit.iso

Note: The format for file.md5sum is md5sum value, 2 spaces, file.iso

Run the command

--- Code: ---md5sum -c LinuxLite.md5sum
linux-lite-2.0-64bit.iso: OK
--- End code ---

Kirkx:

--- Quote ---Valtam: This would only duplicate software that already exists in Linux Lite.

--- Code: ---md5sum nameofisofile.iso
--- End code ---

--- End quote ---
Yes, the command above returns the md5sum but it won't compare it with the MD5 value usually provided on iso file's download page. Here is an example of Ubuntu "mini.iso" file:

step 1

step 2

step 3

step 4

step 6


According to Ubuntu Help Wiki it is actually possible to get the same result as on my screenshots using md5sum command and a web browser or a separate MD5SUMS file (provided on some download pages) but the two methods described in the Wiki are not nearly as intuitive:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/HowToMD5SUM

Most MD5 checksum utilities for Windows I have seen offer "compare" function and I suspect that anyone migrating from Windows who likes to look at hash values expects similar functionality in Linux as well.

Jerry:
This would only duplicate software that already exists in Linux Lite.


--- Code: ---md5sum nameofisofile.iso
--- End code ---

returns the md5sum.

Kirkx:
It might be a good idea to consider including MD5 checksum utility in the repositories. A few weeks ago I have spent quite a while looking for one in Synaptic and on the web. The most popular seems to be GtkHash, but it can only compute checksums, it doesn't have "compare" function:

http://gtkhash.sourceforge.net/

I have eventually found one tool that can verify checksums, Checksums Calculator. It's portable, there is no installer, you just need to unzip it to a custom directory, set permissions and create menu shortcut:

http://www.sinf.gr/en/hashcalc.html

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