4. Using tar to Perform Full Dumps

Full dumps should only be made when no other people or programs are modifying files in the filesystem. If files are modified while tar is making the backup, they may not be stored properly in the archive, in which case you won't be able to restore them if you have to.

You will want to use the `-V' option to give the archive a volume label, so you can tell what this archive is even if the label falls off the tape, or anything like that.

Unless the filesystem you are dumping is guaranteed to fit on one volume, you will need to use the `-M' option. Make sure you have enough tapes on hand to complete the backup.

If you want to dump each filesystem separately you will need to use the `-l' option to prevent tar from crossing filesystem boundaries when storing (sub)directories.

The `-G' option is not needed, since this is a complete copy of everything in the filesystem, and a full restore from this backup would only be done onto a completely empty disk.

Unless you are in a hurry, and trust the tar program (and your tapes), it is a good idea to use the -W (verify) option, to make sure your files really made it onto the dump properly. This will also detect cases where the file was modified while (or just after) it was being archived.

Go to the first, previous, next, last section, table of contents.