hdiutil (with examples)

Mounting an image

To mount an image, use the following command:

hdiutil attach path/to/image_file

Motivation: Mounting an image allows you to access and interact with its contents as if it were a physical volume or disk. This can be useful for installing software, accessing files, or troubleshooting issues within the image.

Arguments:

• path/to/image_file: The path to the image file that you want to mount.

Example output:

/dev/disk2          GUID_partition_scheme        
/dev/disk2s1        EFI                             
/dev/disk2s2        Apple_APFS                      
/dev/disk3          Apple_HFS     /Volumes/Image Volume

Unmounting an image

To unmount an image, use the following command:

hdiutil detach /Volumes/volume_file

Motivation: Unmounting an image is necessary when you no longer need to access its contents. This frees up system resources and prevents any potential issues caused by leaving the image mounted.

Arguments:

• /Volumes/volume_file: The path of the volume file or mount point you want to unmount.

Example output:

"disk2" unmounted.

Listing mounted images

To list all currently mounted images, use the following command:

hdiutil info

Motivation: Listing mounted images provides an overview of the currently mounted disk images. This can be helpful for understanding the current system state or identifying any conflicts or issues related to mounted images.

Example output:

framework  : 518.00.4
[...]
/dev/disk2          GUID_partition_scheme        
/dev/disk2s1        EFI                             
/dev/disk2s2        Apple_APFS                      
/dev/disk3          Apple_HFS     /Volumes/Image Volume

Creating an ISO image from a directory

To create an ISO image from the contents of a directory, use the following command:

hdiutil makehybrid -o path/to/output_file path/to/directory

Motivation: Creating an ISO image allows you to archive or distribute files as a single, portable image file. This can be useful for creating backups, sharing data with others, or for creating bootable media.

Arguments:

• -o path/to/output_file: The path and filename of the desired output ISO file.
• path/to/directory: The path to the directory whose contents you want to include in the ISO image.

Example output:

...[Creating the ISO image]...

Conclusion

In this article, we have explored the various use cases of the hdiutil command. We have learned how to mount and unmount disk images, list currently mounted images, and create ISO images from directories. By understanding these commands and their arguments, you can effectively manage and interact with disk images on your macOS system.