NAME

ixf − software management package extraction facility

SYNOPSIS

ixf [−VvPptdncax] [− {l | m} list] [−s dir] prefix_cXdYsuffix

DESCRIPTION

ixf is the facility used to read tapes created by igf(1M).  Depending on the options given, general information is printed about the contents of the tape, or archives are read.  tape_dev is the tape device node.  It must be a no-rewind type device. 

Options

-V Print package version. 

-v Verbose mode. 

-P Verify pkgadd return value. 

-p Print package name. 

-t Print table of contents.  This includes all of the archives on the media.  In verbose mode, it also lists any operating system and ramdisk entries. 

-d Print package description. 

-n No rewind.  Do not rewind tape before exiting. 

-c Print creation date of package. 

-a All print options.  Combines the following options: −t, −V, −p, −d, −c. 

-x If a SCRIPTS entry exists, exit with a special value (13 decimal) to indicate this. 

-l list
Extract (or give a table of contents if −t option) only the archives in list.list is a comma-separated list of archive numbers.  If the IXF_AR_OFFSET environment variable is set, it is added to each archive number in the list to determine which archives to extract (or list in the table of contents). 

-m list
Select a list of archives to extract. Before any extraction occurs, the user has a chance to interactively change the input options and destination directory of the selected archives. list is a comma-separated list of archive numbers.  If the IXF_AR_OFFSET environment variable is set, it is added to each archive number in the list to determine which archives to extract. 

-s dir
Override the default destination directory for a SCRIPTS entry.  Use dir instead. 

ixf has two operation modes.  The first mode prints information about the contents of the tape.  There are two types of information, general and table of contents.  The general information may be printed with any combination of the following options: −p, −d, −V, −c.  A table of contents may be printed using the −t option.  The −a option combines both types.  The second mode is for extracting files from archives.  A combination of these two modes is not allowed. 

General information about the contents of the tape is always printed to the standard output path.  This information may include the package name, description, version number, and media creation date.  Each piece of information is printed on its own line.  In verbose mode, each line is prepended with a description of that line’s contents.  For example, ixf -vp prefix_cXdYsuffix, may print "Package Name - xyz".  Without the −v option, it may print "xyz".  Device specific special files take the form prefix_cXdYsuffix, where prefix uniquely defines the type of device, X specifies the controller number of the stated device type, Y specifies the logical device number for the device attached to the stated controller, and suffix specifies device dependent information. 

The table of contents prints a list of the archives on the tape.  If the verbose flag is set, the operating system and ramdisk entries are also printed. 

The Archive Number (or Arc Num) is a unique file number assigned to each archive, starting with 1 for the first archive (which may be a SCRIPTS entry). 

The Tape File Number is the actual record number of that file on the tape, starting at zero for the volume ID. 

The Name is the original filename of the operating system or ramdisk when the tape was made.  This is also the name that must be passed to the bootloader, /usr/lib/tapeboot, to boot from an operating system other than the first OS on the tape. 

The Destination Directory is the directory pathlist that ixf changes to before executing the archive command. 

The Input Command/Description field is the command that will be run to read the archive. 

The optional Description field is a small description of the archive’s contents enclosed in double quotes. 

In extraction mode, ixf reads the tape directory, then goes to the first archive.  Using the archiver, input options, and destination directory stored in the tape directory, it first changes to the destination directory and then executes the command with the input options.  It assumes that if the archive command completes successfully, it will advance the tape one record.  To do this, the process must open the no-rewind device, perform at least one read, and then close the device.  If this is not done, successive commands may read the wrong archive.  If the command completes without error, the next archive is read in same fashion until all of the archives are read.  However, if the first archive is a SCRIPTS entry, ixf changes to the default destination directory /tmp (or the directory specified by the −s option) and then executes the archive command.  In this case, no other archives are processed.  Upon completion, the tape is rewound. 

SEE ALSO

igf(1M), pkgadd(1M)

  —  Essential Utilities