Copying Files to Tape (tar Command)

Things you should know before copying files to tape with the tar command:

• Copying files to a tape using the -c option to tar destroys any files already on the tape at or beyond the current tape position.

• You can use filename substitution wildcards (? and *) as part of the file names you specify when copying files. For example, to copy all documents with a .doc suffix, type *.doc as the filename argument.

• You cannot use filename substitution wildcards for extracting files from a tar archive.

How to Copy Files to a Tape (tar)

1. Change to the directory that contains the files you want to copy.

2. Insert a write-enabled tape into the tape drive.

3. Copy the files to tape with the tar command.

   $ tar cvf /dev/rmt/n filename ...

   c	Indicates you want to create an archive.
   v	Displays the name of each file as it is archived.
   f /dev/rmt/n	Indicates that the archive should be written to the specified device or file.
   filename ...	Indicates the files and directories you want to copy.

   The file names you specify are copied to the tape, overwriting any existing files on the tape.

4. Remove the tape from the drive and write the names of the files on the tape label.

5. Verify that the files copied are on the tape using the tar command with the t option, which displays the tape's contents. See "How to List the Files on a Tape (tar)" for more information on listing files on a tar tape.

   $ tar tvf /dev/rmt/n

Example--Copying Files to a Tape (tar)

The following example copies three files to the tape in tape drive 0.

$ cd /export/home/kryten
$ ls reports
reportA reportB reportC
$ tar cvf /dev/rmt/0 reports
a reports/ 0 tape blocks
a reports/reportA 59 tape blocks
a reports/reportB 61 tape blocks
a reports/reportC 63 tape blocks
$ tar tvf /dev/rmt/n 

How to List the Files on a Tape (tar)

1. Insert a tape into the tape drive.

2. Display the tape contents with the tar command.

   $ tar tvf /dev/rmt/n

   t	Lists the table of contents for the files on the tape.
   v	Used with the t option, and provides detailed information about the files on the tape.
   f /dev/rmt/n	Indicates the tape device.
   filename ...	Indicates the files and directories you want to retrieve.

Example--Listing the Files on a Tape (tar)

The following example lists the files on the tape in drive 0.

$ tar tvf /dev/rmt/0
drwx--x--x   0/1        0 Jul 14 09:24 1999 reports/
-rw------t   0/1    30000 Jul 14 09:23 1999 reports/reportA
-rw------t   0/1    31000 Jul 14 09:24 1999 reports/reportB
-rw------t   0/1    32000 Jul 14 09:24 1999 reports/reportC

How to Retrieve Files From a Tape (tar)

1. Change to the directory where you want to put the files.

2. Insert the tape into the tape drive.

3. Retrieve files from the tape using the tar command.

   $ tar xvf /dev/rmt/n [filename ...]

   x	Indicates that files should be extracted from the specified archive file. All of the files on the tape in the specified drive are copied to the current directory.
   v	Displays the name of each file as it is archived.
   f /dev/rmt/n	Indicates the tape device containing the archive.
   filename	Specifies a file to retrieve.

4. Verify the files are copied by listing the contents of the current directory.

   $ ls -l

Example--Retrieving the Files on a Tape (tar)

The following example retrieves all the files from the tape in drive 0.

$ cd /var/tmp
$ tar xvf /dev/rmt/0
x reports/, 0 bytes, 0 tape blocks
x reports/reportA, 0 bytes, 0 tape blocks
x reports/reportB, 0 bytes, 0 tape blocks
x reports/reportC, 0 bytes, 0 tape blocks
x reports/reportD, 0 bytes, 0 tape blocks
$ ls -l

The names of the files extracted from the tape must exactly match the names of the files stored on the archive. If you have any doubts about the names or paths of the files, first list the files on the tape. See "How to List the Files on a Tape (tar)" for instructions.

See tar(1) for more information.