using cpio

ksun · 12-13-2004, 01:53 PM

I have a file that I need to view what files are in it. I looked at the man pages for cpio, but I guess I just didn't "get it" because I keep getting errors.

If I have a file named "files.cpio.gz-i686" what can I do to open the archive and view the files (mount to a directory, list the files, whatever) and how do I extract the files and copy them to a directory?

I tried un-gzipping the file first, since it had gz in the name, but that didn't work.

Thanks in advance.

drisay · 12-13-2004, 01:55 PM

try:
gunzip files.cpio.gz-i686
then:
cpio -idmv < files.cpio

visaris · 12-13-2004, 01:56 PM

gunzip is "broken" in that it won't try to extract a file with an 'unknown' suffix. do this:

Code:

mv files.cpio.gz-i686 files.cpio-i686.gz && gunzip files.cpio-i686.gz

That should extract the files.

EDIT:
At least the gzipped part. Post the error messages you get and we can help you better.

ksun · 12-13-2004, 03:05 PM

I don't know why I didn't think of this.

I tried to gunzip the file without renaming it. The way most linux utils work, I almost can't believe you have to rename this file before you can gunzip.

anyway, gunzipping and then cpio worked.

snehasis · 05-12-2006, 05:14 AM

for extracting cpio.gz files:

zcat /src/somefile.cpio.gz | cpio -idmv

would also do.
thanks.