[SOLVED] tar misbehaving (or else I'm lost)

bluegospel · 11-12-2011, 06:53 PM

Okay, I'm trying to create a tar file from my shell, from the directory containing the directory I want to archive, using this command:

Code:

tar -cp bluebounty.tar bluebounty

The file I want to archive is bluebounty
I'm using the -p option because I want to preserve permissions

When the command is run, my shell spits out a barrage of strange characters and fails to create the file.

Any ideas why?

fukawi1 · 11-12-2011, 07:12 PM

Quote:

-f, --file [HOSTNAME:]F
use archive file or device F (default "-", meaning stdin/stdout)

You need the -f option to specify the name of the tar file. As the last option

ie:

Code:

tar -cpvf bluebounty.tar bluebounty

Code:

tar -[options]f $archive_name $stuff_to_archive

bluegospel · 11-12-2011, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fukawi1

You need the -f option to specify the name of the tar file. As the last option

Much thanks! Very helpful.