Frequently Asked Questions
How to verify the downloaded files with md5
The MD5 Message-Digest Algorithm is a widely used cryptographic hash function that produces a 128-bit hash value. The MD5 hash (or checksum) functions as a compact digital fingerprint of a file. As with all such hashing algorithms, there is theoretically an unlimited number of files that will have any given MD5 hash. However, it is unlikely that any two non-identical files will have the same MD5 hash.
Virtually any change to a file will cause its MD5 hash to change; therefore md5sum is used to verify the integrity of files. Most commonly, md5sum is used to verify that a file has not changed as a result of file transfer, disk error or meddling.
Virtually any change to a file will cause its MD5 hash to change; therefore md5sum is used to verify the integrity of files. Most commonly, md5sum is used to verify that a file has not changed as a result of file transfer, disk error or meddling.
- Windows:
- There is no built in md5 checker in Windows. You need to download a tool such as http://www.winmd5.com/
- Mac OS X:
- Download both the file and the corresponding .md5 to the same directory.
- Start a terminal (Applications -> utilities -> Terminal) and cd to the correct directory
- Run: md5 -r filename
- Run: more filename.md5
- Compare the hashes and make sure that they are identical
- Linux:
- Download both the file and the corresponding .md5 to the same directory.
- Start a terminal and go to the correct directory.
- Run: md5sum -c filename.md5