On Wed, 3 Jul 2002, Norman wrote:
>> tar cvf /dev/st0 /home/norman >> >> did a backup of my home directory. >> >> I thought I would need some software to rewind the tape >> >> not realising that this would happen automatically after >> >> the above command completed. >> >> I assume /dev/nst0 is used if you just want to append extra >> >> stuff after the first write. >> >> best wishes, >> >> norm >> >> >> registered Linux user 277766 > >ok...now you've really got my curiosity peeked. once you get the files >"on" the tape, how in the world does one browse, find, and then get the >file(s) off the tape? I've never done this before, but am truely facinated >by this. Simple. If you put 'em on there with "tar", take 'em off with "tar". To get a listing of them: tar -tvf /dev/st0 > tape_list.tar (would output the contents to a file) Want one off? tar -xvf /dev/st0 <path/filename> Want to get really trick, you can compress the files when you write them to tape with tar: tar -czvf /dev/st0 <files to be backed up> To get those off: tar -zxvf /dev/st0 <filespec> The "z" in tar will compress/uncompress them on the fly. There are far better utilities for doing backups than tar. But in a pinch, it works. Let's not forget that "tar" is short for "Tape ARchive" In fact, tar should by default use whatever your default tape drive is. (works that way on AIX, Solaris, & HP-UX anyway)> You just type: tar -xv <files to back up> If you leave off the "f", it defaults to the first tape drive. The "f" flag is actually to designate a "f"ile name for the archive other than tape. I haven't tried this on Linux. Maybe I'll check mine when I get home.. ;) Have fun! Ric Now the fun part: This is like a lottery: Will this actually post or not. I haven't had any luck lately. I've almost given up trying.
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