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Archives Longer than One Tape or Disk

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To create an archive that is larger than will fit on a single unit of the media, use the `--multi-volume' (`-M') option in conjunction with the `--create' (`-c') option (

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When you specify `--multi-volume' (`-M'), tar does not report an error when it comes to the end of an archive volume (when reading), or the end of the media (when writing). Instead, it prompts you to load a new storage volume. If the archive is on a magnetic tape, you should change tapes when you see the prompt; if the archive is on a floppy disk, you should change disks; etc.

You can read each individual volume of a multi-volume archive as if it were an archive by itself. For example, to list the contents of one volume, use `--list' (`-t'), without `--multi-volume' (`-M') specified. To extract an archive member from one volume (assuming it is described that volume), use `--extract' (`-x'), again without `--multi-volume' (`-M').

If an archive member is split across volumes (ie. its entry begins on one volume of the media and ends on another), you need to specify `--multi-volume' (`-M') to extract it successfully. In this case, you should load the volume where the archive member starts, and use `tar --extract --multi-volume'---tar will prompt for later volumes as it needs them.

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`--info-script=script-name' (`-F script-name') is like `--multi-volume' (`-M'), except that tar does not prompt you directly to change media volumes when a volume is full--instead, tar runs commands you have stored in script-name. This option can be used to broadcast messages such as `Someone please come change my tape' when performing unattended backups. When script-name is done, tar will assume that the media has been changed.

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`--multi-volume'

`-M'

Creates a multi-volume archive, when used in conjunction with `--create' (`-c'). To perform any other operation on a multi-volume archive, specify `--multi-volume' (`-M') in conjunction with that operation.

`--info-script=program-file'

`-F program-file'

Creates a multi-volume archive via a script. Used in conjunction with `--create' (`-c').

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