GNU tar

[Jestin John Chacko]

Dear,

I am using a rx3660 server with 11i 23
In order to take a backup of 18 GB i had installed 3 patches
1>gettext-0.17-ia64-11.23 depot
2>libiconv-1.12-ia64-11.23 depot
3>tar-1.22-ia64-11.23 depot
using swinstall -x reinstall=false -s

A}Is it the correct method to install?

B}IF its so is there any requirement of rebooting the system to get into the effect of these patches?

c} After installing all these patches can i cross the 8GB limit using the same
command tar -cvf or is there any modfification for this command as gnu came into exist?

please give me the correct format including source and destination

I am really worried with this issue can anybody help.

[Duncan Edmonstone]

First point is these are *not* patches - they are products.

a) yes thats the correct. I'm not sure you'll need the "-x reinstall=false" though, where did you get that from?

b) unlikely to require a reboot - you can check when something in a sd format depot requires a reboot by issuing:

swlist -l fileset -a is_reboot -d -s

c) depends on the default format for the build of GNU tar - you can check this by looking at the output of "tar --help" after installing. If it isn't POSIX you will need to add a "--format=posix" to your tar command. (it's the only tar format that GNU tar supports which will backup files which are larger than 8GB). I don't have a copy to try this on, but I'd expect:

/path/to/gnu/tar --format=posix -cvf /dev/rmt/0m /dir_to_backup

would work

HTH

Duncan

[Steven Schweda]

> [...] If it isn't POSIX you will need to
> add a "--format=posix" to your tar command.
> (it's the only tar format that GNU tar
> supports which will backup files which are
> larger than 8GB).

Personally, I'd trust the GNU "tar"
documentation over advice found here:

http://www.gnu.org/software/tar/manual/

which says:

[...]
The following table summarizes the
limitations of each of these formats:

Format UID File Size File Name Devn

gnu 1.8e19 Unlimited Unlimited 63

oldgnu 1.8e19 Unlimited Unlimited 63

v7 2097151 8GB 99 n/a

ustar 2097151 8GB 256 21

posix Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited

The default format for GNU tar is defined at
compilation time. You may check it by running
tar --help, and examining the last lines of
its output. Usually, GNU tar is configured to
create archives in 'gnu' format, however,
future version will switch to 'posix'.
[...]

And for "'gnu' format", "File Size" is
"Unlimited".


> [...] can i cross the 8GB limit using the
> same command tar -cvf [...]

You can, _if_ you use the right "tar", which
could depend on your PATH. I normally build
GNU "tar" from a source kit, and install it
in /usr/local/bin, _and_ create a link there,
gtar -> tar. So, with /usr/local/bin toward
the end of my PATH, (plain) "tar" will get me
the HP-UX "tar", and "gtar" will get me GNU
"tar". I prefer to know which program I'm
running.

> I am really worried [...]

If you're _really_ worried, then run a test.
Why trust _any_ advice over reality?

[Jestin John Chacko]

Dear,

1>I had tried the swlist -l fileset -a is_reboot -d -s /tmp/tar-1.22-1a64-11.23 depot

and i got the output


# tar
tar.tar-RUN false
#
2>path/to/gnu/tar --format=posix -cvf /dev/rmt/0m /dir_to_back


which path i should specify means i should provide like this
/tmp/tar --format=posix -cvf /dev/rmt/0m /dir_to_back

is it correct or i should specify a path if so how can i create it

[Dennis Handly]

>1) I had tried the swlist -l fileset
>tar.tar-RUN false

This doesn't need a reboot.

>2) path/to/gnu/tar --format=posix -cvf /dev/rmt/0m /dir_to_back
>is it correct or i should specify a path if so how can i create it?

Path to what? gtar, your files to back up or the tape?

What you have is fine. And gtar will let you rename from that absolute path when you restore.

[Jestin John Chacko]

Dear

still i have some problems, now i tried


tar -format=possix -cvf /dev/rmt/10mn

but its not working???

while installing the tar product 1.22 for gnu i had provided the same name tar and default is /usr/local but i didnt found it in /usr/local but in /usr/local/bin

how should i make a link with the old default tar with the new one insatalled so that i can use the above command.


please give me the correct format

[Dennis Handly]

>tar -format=possix -cvf /dev/rmt/10mn
>but it's not working?

(Only one "s" in posix.)

>but in /usr/local/bin
>how should I make a link with the old default tar with the new one installed so that I can use the above command.

Just include the path of the GNU tar before the HP-UX version:
PATH=/usr/local/bin:$PATH

[Jestin John Chacko]

Dear,

1>Directory checksum error.

i had tried to take backup through gnutar using
before doing this i had used mt -f rew
2>/usr/local/bin/tar -cvf /dev/rmt/11mn

but it shows an output directory checksum error

only the names of directories where shown
3>the version of tar installed is found using this

swlist -l file tar| grep -i tar

and the output was

tar 1.22 tar
tar.tar-RUN
/usr/local/bin/tar
....


please give me a solution for this problem

[Jestin John Chacko]

Dear,

1>Directory checksum error.

i had tried to take backup through gnutar using
before doing this i had used mt -f rew
2>/usr/local/bin/tar -cvf /dev/rmt/11mn

but it shows an output directory checksum error

only the names of directories where shown
3>the version of tar installed is found using this

swlist -l file tar| grep -i tar

and the output was

tar 1.22 tar
tar.tar-RUN
/usr/local/bin/tar
....


please give me a solution for this problem

[Steven Schweda]

> i had tried [...]

It might be helpful if you showed the actual
commands and their actual output, instead of
your (incomplete, imprecise) summary of them.

> swlist -l file tar| grep -i tar

Probably more helpful would be:

/usr/local/bin/tar --version
ls -l /dev/rmt/11mn

That's a working tape drive? "tar" actually
writes to that tape drive? (Lights flash,
tape moves, and so on?)

You tried this with some small directory,
too?