Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!swrinde!mips!spool.mu.edu!munnari.oz.au!brolga!exnirad From: exnirad@brolga.cc.uq.oz.au (Nirad Sharma) Newsgroups: comp.unix.admin Subject: Raw char devices + tar file on 1 tape Message-ID: <1991Apr16.035959.3654@brolga.cc.uq.oz.au> Date: 16 Apr 91 03:59:59 GMT Organization: Prentice Computer Centre, The University of Queensland, Australia. Lines: 18 I wish to contents of 2 raw devices (unmounted portions of the hard disk) as well as a "tar cf" dump onto 1 tape during night-time backups. I know that cpio will do this job for me but I want to use tar for its portability across systems. (Recent experiences have led to my doubting cpio's portability.) The following steps could be used : 1. dd 1st device 2. dd 2nd device with seek arg to start into tape 3. tar cf - ..... | dd with seek arg but this would involve the tape continuously rewinding. I'm interested in a solution that avoids this. Is my concern unwarranted ? -- Nirad Sharma (exnirad@brolga.cc.uq.oz.au) Phone : (+61 7) 365 7575 Systems Programmer Fax : (+61 7) 870 5080 Continuing Education Unit The University of Queensland. QLD 4072