Hi all karloslambchop here,

Quick question> I want to take a full backup of my system to tape, I am using command:

tar cvf /dev/st0 /

Does anyone know how I can exclude specific folders say /var/lib/vmware

I have seen the -X option in the man page but this is for files?

Any help would be very appreciated.

Take it easy,

karlos.

You can modify the following, it should back up everything (excluding /var/lib/vmware):

Hi gilead,

thanks for the speedy reply, forgive me for being thick how should the sytax look if I am sending the backup to /dev/st0?

respect

karloslambchop

As thick as I am since I didn't know off-hand and the man page didn't seem to have anything

The info page for gives an example of:
So I'd guess that the following "should" work:

Hello, karloslambchop here again...

okay this should be simple but I am really not getting it -

Firstly, thank you gilead for taking time to post.

I want to backup to /dev/st0 everything within /root, but NOT /donotbackup

Sounds simple ehh? I am aware of the -X [file] option within the tar man page however I assume I would have to keep updating the file before every backup cycle.


My test structure is -

-/root
-/donotbakup
-/Karls-help-world

Ideally I would like to say, "send everything in /root to /dev/st0 but not the directory, /donotbackup"

I have been using this command and reckon I am close:

tar -cvf --exclude /root/donotbackup/ --file=/dev/st0 /root/

Output:

/bin/tar: Removing leading `/' from member names
/root/donotbackup/
/bin/tar: --file=/dev/st0: Cannot stat: No such file or directory
/root/
/root/.profile
/root/.bashrc
/root/dbootstrap_settings
/root/.aptitude/
/root/.aptitude/config
/root/.viminfo
/root/.xsession
/root/.bash_history
/root/.xsession-errors
/root/.fluxbox/
/root/.fluxbox/keys
/root/.fluxbox/menu
/root/.fluxbox/init
/root/.fluxbox/slitlist
/root/.fluxbox/startup
/root/.rnd
/root/.Xauthority
/root/.wm_style
/root/.vmware/
/root/.vnc/
/root/.vnc/sesman_passwd
/root/.synaptic/
/root/.synaptic/lock
/root/.synaptic/synaptic.conf
/root/.synaptic/log/
/root/.synaptic/log/2006-07-13.205433.log
/root/.synaptic/log/2006-07-19.003830.log
/root/.synaptic/log/2006-07-20.223216.log
/root/.synaptic/options
/root/.gnome2/
/root/.gnome2/accels/
/root/.gnome2_private/
/root/.gconf/
/root/.gconfd/
/root/.gconfd/saved_state
/root/.azureus/
/root/.azureus/plugins/
/root/.azureus/plugins/azplugins
/root/.azureus/plugins/bdcc
/root/.azureus/.lock
/root/.azureus/logs/
/root/.azureus/logs/debug_1.log
/root/.azureus/logs/save/
/root/.azureus/logs/save/1153159702622_debug_1.log
/root/.azureus/azureus.config
/root/.azureus/tmp/
/root/.azureus/azureus.config.bak
/root/Karls-help-world/
/root/Karls-help-world/Commands overview.rtf
/root/Karls-help-world/cool-commands
/root/Karls-help-world/commands-overview.rtf
/root/Karls-help-world/vmware-commands.rtf
/root/Karls-help-world/samba-commands.rtf
/root/Karls-help-world/accounts-and-perms.rtf
/root/Karls-help-world/display-xserver.rtf
/root/Karls-help-world/tape-commands
/root/Karls-help-world/vmadminbash
/root/donotbackup/
/root/.wine/
/root/.wine/dosdevices/
/root/.wine/dosdevices/c:
/root/.wine/dosdevices/z:
/root/.wine/drive_c/
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/command/
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/command/start.exe
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/fonts/
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/inf/
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/inf/wine.inf
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/system/
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/system32/
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/system32/drivers/
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/system32/wcmd.exe
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/system32/control.exe
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/system32/help.exe
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/system32/msiexec.exe
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/system32/notepad.exe
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/system32/progman.exe
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/system32/regsvr32.exe
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/system32/winmine.exe
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/system32/winver.exe
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/temp/
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/notepad.exe
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/regedit.exe
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/rundll32.exe
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/uninstall.exe
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/winhelp.exe
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/winhlp32.exe
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/winebrowser.exe
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/win.ini
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/system.ini
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/profiles/
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/profiles/root/
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/profiles/root/Desktop/
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/profiles/root/Local Settings/
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/profiles/root/Local Settings/Temporary Internet Files/
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/profiles/root/Local Settings/History/
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/profiles/root/Local Settings/Application Data/
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/profiles/root/Cookies/
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/profiles/root/My Documents
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/profiles/root/My Pictures
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/profiles/root/My Video
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/profiles/root/My Music
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/profiles/root/Start Menu/
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/profiles/root/Start Menu/Programs/
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/profiles/root/Start Menu/Programs/StartUp/
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/profiles/root/Favorites/
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/profiles/root/Application Data/
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/profiles/root/Recent/
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/profiles/root/SendTo/
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/profiles/root/NetHood/
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/profiles/root/Templates/
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/profiles/root/PrintHood/
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/profiles/All Users/
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/profiles/All Users/Start Menu/
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/profiles/All Users/Start Menu/Programs/
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/profiles/All Users/Start Menu/Programs/StartUp/
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/profiles/All Users/Desktop/
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/profiles/All Users/Favorites/
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/profiles/All Users/Application Data/
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/profiles/All Users/Templates/
/root/.wine/drive_c/windows/profiles/All Users/Documents/
/root/.wine/drive_c/Program Files/
/root/.wine/drive_c/Program Files/Common Files/
/root/.wine/system.reg
/root/.wine/userdef.reg
/root/.wine/user.reg
/root/v
/root/exempt
/root/--exclude=
/root/.fonts.cache-1
/root/--exclude
/bin/tar: Error exit delayed from previous errors


Goes without saying, I am an ex-Windoze user that is learning fast on ubuntu. I do try and find answers before posting.

I Really appreciate any help on this,

respect

Karlos.

Hi Karlos, yep, it's always "fun" trying to get the right switches for commands

Looking at the output you've posted, I'd say the problem is with using the 'f' option as well as the --file option. Can you try it with the following syntax?

Hi Gilead,

Outstanding! Its sad (no offence to all seasoned linux guru's) but linux always gives such a big buzz when you get something working after days weeks of searching?

Anyway, sincere thanks for the command syntax, it worked a treat.

Take it easy,

karloslambchop.

PS I think my girlfriend is slowly becoming a linux widow!!! hehe its 01:44 am ...

Yep! The thrill of discovery is half the fun! Of course, the more you discover, the more complicated stuff you can do and that means more searching - and more of a buzz

I hope she's a patient woman