Howdy!

I'm running RedHat 7.3 and backing up my system to a tape drive with the following tar command (which runs in a script M-F via Cron). I just setup this backup for the first time:

tar -zcvpf /dev/st0 -T /usr/local/backup/FILESYSTEM > /var/log/backup/tntux-backup-files.log 2> /var/log/backup/tntux-backup-errors.log

My backup is successful in that my file log is very populated, and I have even test restored certain files. However, my error log shows the following. I was wondering if anyone can tell me what one or more of these errors mean, and if they are something to worry about or not. I am somewhat new to using TAR and would like to know what these mean so I can either "rest" or "be stressed"! ;-) Thanks a lot for your help...

[root@tntux backup]# cat tntux-backup-errors.log.2
tar: Removing leading `/' from member names
tar: /dev/log: socket ignored
tar: /dev/gpmctl: socket ignored
tar: : Cannot stat: No such file or directory
tar: Error exit delayed from previous errors

Well, you can either stress or peace out..

Your problems are due to incorrect file(names) in your FILESYSTEM file.

Work through your list again, and remove things like /dev/mouse , /dev/<odd stuff here> because you can't store your mouse on a tape, for instance :P

Likewise, look for funny squiggles, and odd characters you've gotten left there (the removing /' from names).

Finally you've simply got files trying to be backed up that either aren't there, or have moved, or have the wrong directory name (hence 'cannot stat')

Doesn't look as though you have too much to be worried about, unless one of those directories was a large one.

Slick.

Cool! It sounds like I need to trim down my FILESYSTEM file pretty good.. Right now I'm grabbing everything under the sun! ;-) Thanks a lot for the help!

[root@tntux root]# cat /usr/local/backup/FILESYSTEM
/bin
/boot
/dev
/etc
/home
/lib
/opt
/root
/sbin
/usr
/var