Calculate a file's checksum with Perl?

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From: Alfonso PALACIOS SUREDA
Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2000 00:00

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I would like to calculate a file's checsum using Perl. Ine the Perl doc
they say:

==========================
For example, the following computes the same number as the System V sum
program: 
while (<>) {
  $checksum += unpack("%16C*", $_);
}
$checksum %= 65536;
==========================

But when I try this, the checksum I get is slightly different from the
one I get whith the "sum" command on my Solaris platform. 

- Can I still use this number as a checksum, like System V's?
- What do the 'pack' and 'unpack' functions do, anyway? They don't say
much in the Perl doc.

Thanx,

	Alfonso

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From: Alfonso PALACIOS SUREDA <alfonso.palacios-sureda@alcatel.fr>
Subject: Calculate a file's checksum with Perl?
Date: 2000/01/20
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