Using tar to backup large files

[Tim Edwards]

Hi,

I would like to know if its possible to backup and restore tar backups
greater than 2gb in total size split into ~650mb chunks. I have an Mp3
folder with about 2.3gb of stuff in it that I use tar to archive into
several 650mb files. However what happens when I want to restore them? I
have tried creating a tar file greater than 2gb and it seems that tar
cannot extract files from such an archive. I'm running Mandrake 9.1, on
ext3 partitions and I've successfuly created files (including a tar
archive) larger than 2gb on disk.

Once that > 2gb tar archive is created and split into 650mb chunks I need to
know how to recombine them and successfuly extract the files from the
recombined tar archive.

Sorry if i'm rambling a bit but its late at nite here :)

Thanks.

Tim

[Steve Wolfe]

> > Once that > 2gb tar archive is created and split into 650mb chunks I
need to
> > know how to recombine them and successfuly extract the files from the
>

> Just cat them together and stream them into tar's stdin.

That trick stands a pretty good chance of working to let tar extract
files from the > 2gb file in the first place:

cat foo.tar | tar -x

However, I'll recommend either obtaining an updated "tar" package with
large file support, or simply download/compile with large file support.
For ten minute's worth of work, you'll never have to worry about tar
managing large files again.

steve