topic Re: how to append a new backup without overwriting existing ? in Operating System - Linux

how to append a new backup without overwriting existing ?

Maaz — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:40:08 GMT

I took backup on tape, via
# tar -czf /dev/st0 /home

and check/list via
# tar -tzf /dev/st0

ok, but when I try to create another backup on tape, via
# tar -czf /dev/st0 /data
then the previous backup(/home) gone.
# tar -tvf /dev/st0
only shows /data, and not /home.

and I want both /home and /data backup on tape.

please help
Regards

Re: how to append a new backup without overwriting existing ?

Ivan Ferreira — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 19:10:45 GMT

You must use the /dev/nst0 so you won't rewind your tape. Then you must use the mt fsf command to move between the backup copies on tape:

http://hep.uchicago.edu/cdf/howto/TapeArchiving.html

Re: how to append a new backup without overwriting existing ?

Dennis Handly — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 21:17:12 GMT

>how to append a new backup without overwriting existing?

This is very dangerous (error prone) and you don't want to do this. If you successfully put it on your tape, you'll need to remember how to get it off. If you have N backups, then how will you remember what's where?

>I want both /home and /data backup on tape.

You can put both there in the same pass:
tar -czf /dev/st0 /home /data

Re: how to append a new backup without overwriting existing ?

Ivan Kuznetsov — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 07:00:51 GMT

tar -rzf /dev/st0 /data
Appends /data to the end of the archive

Re: how to append a new backup without overwriting existing ?

Dennis Handly — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 00:22:32 GMT

>Ivan: tar -rzf /dev/st0 /data
Appends /data to the end of the archive

Unless GNU tar -r is different than HP-UX, you can't use -r with tapes.