This works because block devices like /dev/sdX are just files. If you cp a file onto another file, it overwrites the data of the destination with the source. A block device represents the device itself, not the filesystem; if you wanted to put the ISO inside the filesystem, you’d have to mount it first.
The only thing you would have achieved that was would be to copy an iso file onto your stick. EFI or Boot doesn’t know how to do anything with it.
A lot of Linux ISOs are hybrid images which can be booted if flashed directly to a USB stick.
Op was just using
cpto copy the iso onto the drive no flashing or anything…The cp command will write the ISO file directly onto the device. This is the official way that is recommended by Debian:
cp debian.iso /dev/sdX
Source: https://www.debian.org/releases/stable/amd64/ch04s03.en.html
Woah…
Damn I’m sorry for questioning this method, I didn’t know.
This works because block devices like
/dev/sdXare just files. If youcpa file onto another file, it overwrites the data of the destination with the source. A block device represents the device itself, not the filesystem; if you wanted to put the ISO inside the filesystem, you’d have to mount it first.