---
name: "dvhtool"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "dvhtool"
version: "1.0.1-6.1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/dvhtool"
---

# dvhtool(8)

Disk volume header manipulation tool

## NAME

dvhtool - Disk volume header manipulation tool

## SYNOPSIS

**dvhtool**  **--device** *devicename* \[ option \]

**dvhtool**  **-d** *devicename* \[ option \]

## DESCRIPTION

*dvhtool* is a utility for displaying SGI disk partition and volume header information as well as for copying files to and from the volume header.

It is similar to the IRIX(tm) utility of the same name, however the options and usage are quite different.  Also, the IRIX utility cannot display partition and boot file information.

The disk volume header includes the disk partition table and the volume directory.  The volume directory is an index to the files stored in the volume header part of the disk.  These files can be anything but are usually standalone programs (like *sash*, the SGI standalone shell).  The space available for files is usually limited to one, two or a few megabytes, this can only be changed by repartitioning the disk with *fx*, the SGI disk formatting and partitioning tool or *fdisk*.

You must be root to invoke *dvhtool*. The device name can be */dev/sda* for the first disk,  */dev/sdb* for the second, and so on.

*dvhtool* will also work on a file image of a disk volume header.

OPTIONS **-d,  --device** *devicename* Specify the volume header device name (or file image)

- **--print-volume-header**

  Show volume header data only

- **--print-volume-directory**

  Show volume table of contents

- **--print-partitions**

  Show partition data

- **--print-all**

  Equivalent to all three above options

- **--vh-remove *name***

  Remove volhdr file *name*.

- **--vh-to-unix *name file***

  Copy volhdr file *name* to Unix file *file*

- **--unix-to-vh *file name***

  Copy Unix file *file* to volhdr as *name*

- **--help**

  Show usage information

## SEE ALSO

[fdisk(8)](/fdisk/8.md)

- IRIX tools: fx(1M), prtvtoc(1M), vh(7M).

  ## AUTHORS

*dvhtool* was written by Ralf Baechle \<ralf@oss.sgi.com\>, Keith M. Wesolowski \<wesolows@foobazco.org\>, Tor Arntsen \<tor@spacetec.no\>, Guido Guenther \<agx@debian.org\>.