From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Received: from joana.gotss.net ([203.53.231.66] ident=mail) by speech.braille.uwo.ca with esmtp (Exim 3.32 #1 (Debian)) id 163Bkg-0004CW-00 for ; Mon, 12 Nov 2001 02:43:31 -0500 Received: from kerry by joana.gotss.net with local (Exim 3.12 #1 (Debian)) id 163Bkc-0002AP-00 for ; Mon, 12 Nov 2001 15:43:26 +0800 Date: Mon, 12 Nov 2001 15:43:26 +0800 To: speakup@braille.uwo.ca Subject: Re: Backing up entire system with tar Message-ID: <20011112154326.A8309@joana.gotss.net> References: <000c01c16b2d$bd3a4ee0$7f7ef59b@essex.ac.uk> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Disposition: inline User-Agent: Mutt/1.2.5i In-Reply-To: <000c01c16b2d$bd3a4ee0$7f7ef59b@essex.ac.uk>; from ss@saqibshaikh.com on Mon, Nov 12, 2001 at 03:54:29AM -0000 From: Kerry Hoath Sender: speakup-admin@braille.uwo.ca Errors-To: speakup-admin@braille.uwo.ca X-BeenThere: speakup@braille.uwo.ca X-Mailman-Version: 2.0.6 Precedence: bulk Reply-To: speakup@braille.uwo.ca List-Help: List-Post: List-Subscribe: , List-Id: Speakup is a screen review system for Linux. List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: Here is how it works. Tar is smart enough to not add an archive to itself. This will work: tar cvpf /tmp/foo.tar / If you want the tar under /mnt then do something like this: mount /dev/hdxx /mnt cd /mnt tar cvplf backup.tar / or tar czvplf mnt.tar / c means create. v be verbose. p save/restore permitions. l stay in local filesystem i.e. do not cross mountpoints f write archive to a file not magnetic tape. z pipe the archive through gzip Hope this helps. Regards, Kerry. On Mon, Nov 12, 2001 at 03:54:29AM -0000, Saqib Shaikh wrote: > Hi, > > I keep on finding myself wanting to play with new things etc. Instead of having to reinstall my system ever time I end up breaking something (sorry, I'm a perfectionist who feels my system must be perfect!), can I just back up my entire system with tar. > > The first question is: what is the syntax for this? > > Secondly, where will the tar file go. What I mean is, if the command were: > tar cf /* ./backup.tar > then won't the program get into a loop since I'm backing up the current directory, but also continually writing data to this directory? Equally, if I mount a second partition under /mnt and save the tar file to /mnt/backup.tar won't it try and backup the mounted partition also? > > I'd be greatful if anyone has the answer to my question. > > Thanks, Saqib > -- Kerry Hoath: kerry@gotss.net kerry@gotss.eu.org or kerry@gotss.spice.net.au ICQ UIN: 8226547