topic TAR problem in Operating System - HP-UX

TAR problem

Mauro_8 — Thu, 04 Apr 2002 12:21:41 GMT

Hi,

I??m having problems during a backup using the TAR command. I??m sharing some directories using samba and when I try to backup these directories some files show this message: "File shrank by 144896 bytes; padding with zero /usr/example.doc". Despite of it a can open the file with no problems. Any suggestions to sove it ?

Cheers,
Mauro

Re: TAR problem

Olav Baadsvik — Thu, 04 Apr 2002 12:45:46 GMT

Hi,

This could be a question of "sparse files"
Sparse files can be created in HP-UX to save
space when a file contains large amounts of
null data. When a sparse file is copied with
tar blocks of zeros unallocated in the original file will be written.

regards
Olav

Re: TAR problem

harry d brown jr — Thu, 04 Apr 2002 12:48:02 GMT

Backing up files that are open will cause this issue. To eliminate the issue, either stop samba, or mirror the disks/split them/mount them/backup the "mirrored" copy/remirror them.

live free or die
harry

Re: TAR problem

Steve Steel — Thu, 04 Apr 2002 12:54:23 GMT

Hi

HP tar or Gnu Tar

This is caused by sparse files .

Do not recommend tar as a useful backup.

Use fbackup.

frecover is ok with sparse

Steve Steel

Re: TAR problem

MANOJ SRIVASTAVA — Thu, 04 Apr 2002 15:35:36 GMT

Hi Mauro

This is something to do with sparse files .
Look at :
http://www-gnats.gnu.org:8080/cgi-bin/info2www?(tar)sparse

for more explanations . My best bet is to use some other backup utility or load GNU TAR in case you dont have that and use -S option.

Manoj Srivastava