Argument list too long in find comand with pecified targets

[Kevin Aingworth]

How do i solve this error i keep getting when running my script for a backup dump:

/sbin/find: arg list too long

the line of script is:

find $TARGETS -print | cpio -ovC 65536 > /dev/nrmt0h

where $TARGETS are Different Folders in the directory

[Steve Burt_1]

How about using xargs

find $HOME -maxdepth 2 -name '*jpg' -print0 | xargs -0 xv

--Steve

[Kevin Aingworth]

Would it work this way then

find -maxdepth 5 -name '$TARGETS' -print0 | xargs -0 | cpio -ovC > /dev/nrmt0h

let me know cause our apps are on this drive and backups haven't run for the last two months

[Steve Burt_1]

Try

find $TARGETS -print | xargs | cpio -ovC 65536 > /dev/nrmt0h

This link is very good

http://www.grymoire.com/Unix/Find.html#uh-4

[Kevin Aingworth]

Nope still Doesn't work. maybe i must split the script and do a find for each directory if i don't come right

[Kevin Aingworth]

Is it not maybe the block size that i specify that is causing me grief

"-C 65536"

[Steve Burt_1]

Hi Kevin,

You may have a point!

why not remove the blocksize

I use prefer using tar :-)

--Steve

[Kevin Aingworth]

well i'll try that the thing is our Unix administrator left and this script was written in 1999 so its not mine thats why i don't want to change too much when i get time i will write a new one

[Steve Burt_1]

This is also a very helpful link with using tar...and backups

http://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/linux-tape-backup-with-mt-and-tar-command-howto/

--Steve

[Kevin Aingworth]

think i'm just going to take out that line and try this:

tar -czf /dev/nrmt0h $TARGETS

or

tar - czf /dev/nrmt0h ./directory ./directory2 .....and so on

What u think

[Steve Burt_1 · Accepted solution]

That sounds a good idea directory by directory to get you going...

If its a large amount of data you may have to use the multiple tape option... as descibed in that second link...

--Steve

[Kevin Aingworth]

Thanks a million for the help Steve you'll see I've given you relevant points for your help. although i'm not going to go with the tar command anymore as the problem is the Guys doing the backup and restores are not familiar on how to restore with the tar command. so I've decided to split up my targets in section and just append on the tape (>>).

Regards
Kevin

see you around the forum

[Kevin Aingworth]

Read above for solution