Re: split archives using tar

["Michael W. Shaffer" <mwshaffer@yahoo.com>]

This is not exactly what you were asking for, but you might try something
like:

  tar -cvMf /dev/sdz directories_to_archive

where /dev/sdz is replaced by the device for your Zip drive. The 'M'
option should (according to the man page) cause tar to prompt you for the
next disk when it runs out of space on the first one. You can then
extract the 'multi-volume' archive with a command like:

  tar -xvMf /dev/sdz

I highly recommend using cpio in preference to tar if the archives are
for your own use and not public distribution to unknown platforms. The
command to use cpio would be:

  find directories_to_archive | cpio -ovH crc > /dev/sdz

Cpio will automatically span volumes and prompt for the next disk or tape
when it runs out of space. The 'H crc' option a causes GNU cpio to create
an archive in portable ASCII format with a 32-bit CRC for each file. This
allows you to easily verify the archive's integrity and detect errors on
restore. Unlike tar, cpio will not puke if it encounters a single error
on restore but will continue to restore all undamaged data after the
error.

To verify with cpio:

  cpio --only-verify-crc -iv < /dev/sdz

This will not print any messages except the final block count if all the
CRC checks are good. This does not compare files on tape to those on disk
but instead reads the file from tape, calculates a CRC, and then compares
it with the one stored on the tape at the time of creation to see if they
match.

To restore with cpio:

  cpio -imudv < /dev/sdz

Warning: the 'u' option causes cpio to automatically overwrite existing
files on disk with those from the archive.


--- John Davis <davis@bops.com> wrote:
> run tar so that it will take a 500 Meg archive and split it into 5 100
> Meg tar files?  If so, how do I do this?
> 

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