pv Linux command

The Linux pv command, short for “pipe viewer,” is a powerful utility that allows users to monitor the progress of data being transferred through a pipeline. With pv, you can track data flow, speed up transfers by applying rate limiting, and seamlessly manage multiple streams of data. This command is particularly useful for tasks such as copying large files, creating backups, and transferring data between different systems. By providing real-time information on throughput, duration, and progress, pv helps users optimize their data transfer processes and ensure efficient execution of tasks.

pv Syntax:

pv [options] [file]

Options:

Option	Description
-q, —quiet	Suppresses output from pv
-b, —bytes	Show the progress in bytes
-n, —numeric	Print the output without visual bars
-L, —line-mode	Output one line with progress
-s, —size	Sets the size of the input in bytes
-w, —wait	Waits for both pipes to open before starting
-e, —eta	Shows the estimated time of completion
-r, —rate-limit	Limit the transfer rate in bytes per second
-B, —buffer-size	Sets the buffer size for the transfer
-c, —cursor	Hide the cursor

Parameters:

Parameter	Description
file	The file to be monitored by pv

Caution

Exercise caution when using the pv command, especially with the options that directly affect data transfer and monitoring. Incorrect usage may affect data integrity or system performance.

pv bash Examples:

Copy a File with Progress Bar

pv file.txt > newfile.txt

This command copies the content of “file.txt” to “newfile.txt” while displaying the progress bar.

Monitor Data Transfer Between Processes

tar -cf - /folder | pv | tar -xf - -C /destination

This command archives the “/folder” contents, sends the data to pv to monitor the transfer, and then extracts the data to “/destination”.

Limit Data Transfer Speed

pv -L 1M file.iso > /dev/sdX

The command limits the transfer rate to 1MB per second while writing the “file.iso” content to a block device (/dev/sdX).

Display Transfer Rate Between Files

pv -r file1.txt > file2.txt

It copies the content of “file1.txt” to “file2.txt” and displays the transfer rate between the two files.

Show Progress while Compressing Files

tar czf - /folder | pv | gzip > archive.tar.gz

This command creates a compressed archive of the “/folder” content, using pv to display the progress bar, and then saves it to “archive.tar.gz”.

Check Disk Write Speed

dd if=/dev/zero bs=1M count=100 | pv > /dev/sdX

It measures the write speed of a block device “/dev/sdX” by writing 100MB of zeros using dd and displaying the progress with pv.

Tip

When using the pv command in Linux, make sure to check the available options and their usage in the command’s manual (man pv) for detailed explanations and examples.

How do I install pv in Linux?

To install the pv command in Linux, you can use the package manager of your distribution. For example, on Debian-based systems, you can run:

sudo apt-get install pv

How can I monitor the progress of a data transfer using pv?

To monitor the progress of a data transfer using pv, you can use it along with other commands like dd by piping the data through pv. For example:

dd if=/dev/zero | pv | dd of=outputfile

How can I limit the transfer rate using pv in Linux?

To limit the transfer rate using pv in Linux, you can specify the desired rate using the -L flag followed by the rate. For example:

pv -L 1m filetosend | ssh user@host 'cat > /path/to/destination'

How can I display the progress bar with elapsed time using pv?

To display the progress bar along with the elapsed time using pv, you can add the -t or --timer option to the command. For example:

pv -pt filetosend > /path/to/destination

How can I show the current data transfer rate using pv in Linux?

To show the current data transfer rate using pv in Linux, you can add the -r option to display the rate. For example:

pv -r filetosend > /path/to/destination

How can I display the passed and remaining bytes using pv?

To display both the passed and remaining bytes during a data transfer using pv, you can use the -e option. For example:

pv -pet filetosend > /path/to/destination

How can I ignore the SIGINT signal using pv in Linux?

To ignore the SIGINT signal (Ctrl+C) while using pv in Linux, you can include the -i 0 option in your command. For example:

pv -i 0 filetosend > /path/to/destination

Applications of the pv command

• Monitor the progress of data through a pipeline
• Show the throughput of data transfer
• Create progress bars for data transfer
• Limit the transfer rate of data
• Display statistics about the data transfer process