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AIX 5.2 tar -X to exclude a directory

Hi,
I would like to exclude a directory from my tar of /usr/sap/trans backup.
i have tried using the -X option (as specified in the man pages), but the option is not recognised when it is in the command.
The command I am trying to run is:
tar -cvf trans.tar /usr/sap/trans -X /usr/sap/trans/<dir_to_exclude>
The system does not like the -X option.

Any ideas?
Cheers,
ShamelessUK

SOLUTION

Kerem ERSOY

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Kerem ERSOY

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woolmilkporc

Hi ShamelessUK,
you're right, tar as shipped with AIX 5.2 doesn't honour the -X option.

How about upgrading to 5.3?

OK, seriously, you can use the tar contained in the AIX toolbox or here -

http://www.perzl.org/aix/index.php?n=Main.Tar

Download it, install using 'rpm -i tar-1.22-1.aix5.1.ppc.rpm'

and call it by '/opt/freeware/bin/tar ......' with the remaining parameters as in your Q.

If, for some reason, there was no possibility for you to install that tar version, we could construct an 'include' file, use of which is supported with your tar.
For that construction we need to know your exclusion criteria. Perhaps we can then work out something useful.

Good luck!

wmp

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Kerem ERSOY

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Kerem ERSOY

@woolmilkporc:

> Hi ShamelessUK,
> you're right, tar as shipped with AIX 5.2 doesn't honour the -X option.

I am afraid this is not correct. -X option is supported by AIX V 5.2 an up. Furthermore if it did not accept the switch it would print a nag line such as:

tar: illegal option -- X

SOLUTION

gheist

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Kerem ERSOY

Will you post the output of tar command (I mean the usage info when you type just tar on a line)? also the output of oslevel -r ?

Should be similar to this:
Usage: tar -{c|r|t|u|x} [ -BdDEFhilmopRsUvw ] [ -Number ] [ -f TarFile ]
[ -b Blocks ] [ -S [ Feet ] | [ Feet@Density ] | [ Blocksb ] ]
[ -L InputList ] [-X ExcludeFile] [ -N Blocks ] [ -C Directory ] File ...
Usage: tar {c|r|t|u|x} [ bBdDEfFhilLXmNopRsSUvw[0-9] ]
[ Blocks ] [ TarFile ] [ InputList ] [ ExcludeFile ]
[ [ Feet ] | [ Feet@Density ] | [ Blocksb ] ] [-C Directory ] File ...

gheist

gnu tar here, command gtar after installing.
ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/aix/freeSoftware/aixtoolbox/RPMS/ppc/tar/tar-1.14-2.aix5.1.ppc.rpm

Shamelessuk

ASKER

Thanks guys. I had to tar individual directories in the end as it was a customer system and they removed my root access shortly after I posted the question - thus killing my attempts to try out the solutions suggested. That said, I have tried them out on a different machine and all seemed to work as expected.
Thanks again,
Shamelessuk

gheist

If it goes routine try gnu tar - remember that normal AIX tar will not be able to open files (7-zip or tar on linux/bsd will open them)