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5.1 Using 'tar' to Perform Full Dumps
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Full dumps should only be made when no other people or programs are
modifying files in the file system. 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. (Files not
being modified are written with no trouble, and do not corrupt the
entire archive.)
You will want to use the '--label=ARCHIVE-LABEL' ('-V ARCHIVE-LABEL')
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 file system you are dumping is guaranteed to fit on one
volume, you will need to use the '--multi-volume' ('-M') option. Make
sure you have enough tapes on hand to complete the backup.
If you want to dump each file system separately you will need to use
the '--one-file-system' option to prevent 'tar' from crossing file
system boundaries when storing (sub)directories.
The '--incremental' ('-G') ( Incremental Dumps) option is not
needed, since this is a complete copy of everything in the file system,
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 '--verify' ('-W') 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. Not all media (notably cartridge tapes) are capable of
being verified, unfortunately.
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