Copying Files and File Systems to Diskette

Before you can copy files or file systems to diskette, you must format the diskette. For information on how to format a diskette, see Chapter 2, Managing Removable Media (Tasks).

Use the tar command to copy UFS files to a single formatted diskette.

Use the cpio command if you need to copy UFS files to multiple formatted diskettes. The cpio command recognizes end-of-media and prompts you to insert the next diskette.

What You Should Know When Copying Files to Diskettes

• Copying files to a formatted diskette by using the tar -c command destroys any files that are already on the diskette.

• A diskette that contains a tar image is not mountable.

• If you need a multiple-volume interchange utility, use the cpio command. The tar command is only a single-volume utility.

For more information, see tar(1).

How to Copy Files to a Single Formatted Diskette (tar)

1. Change to the directory that contains the files you want to copy.
2. Insert a formatted diskette that is not write-protected into the drive.
3. Make the diskette available.

   $ volcheck

4. Reformat the diskette, if necessary.

   $ rmformat -U /dev/rdiskette
   Formatting will erase all the data on disk.
   Do you want to continue? (y/n)y

5. Copy the files to diskette.

   $ tar cvf /vol/dev/aliases/floppy0 filenames

   The file names that you specify are copied to the diskette, overwriting any existing files on the diskette.

6. Verify that the files were copied.

   $ tar tvf /vol/dev/aliases/floppy0

   For more information on listing files, see How to List the Files on a Diskette (tar).

7. Remove the diskette from the drive.
8. Write the names of the files on the diskette label.

Example 29-14 Copying Files to a Single Formatted Diskette (tar)

The following example shows how to copy files named evaluation* to a diskette.

$ cd /home/smith
$ volcheck
$ ls evaluation*
evaluation.doc   evaluation.doc.backup
$ tar cvf /vol/dev/aliases/floppy0 evaluation*
a evaluation.doc 86 blocks
a evaluation.doc.backup 84 blocks
$ tar tvf /vol/dev/aliases/floppy0

How to List the Files on a Diskette (tar)

1. Insert a diskette into the drive.
2. Make the diskette available.

   $ volcheck

3. List the files on a diskette.

   $ tar tvf /vol/dev/aliases/floppy0

Example 29-15 Listing the Files on a Diskette (tar)

The following example shows how to list the files on a diskette.

$ volcheck
$ tar tvf /vol/dev/aliases/floppy0
rw-rw-rw-6693/10  44032 Jun  9 15:45 evaluation.doc
rw-rw-rw-6693/10  43008 Jun  9 15:55 evaluation.doc.backup
$

How to Retrieve Files From a Diskette (tar)

1. Change to the directory where you want to put the files.
2. Insert the diskette into the drive.
3. Make the diskette available.

   $ volcheck

4. Retrieve files from the diskette.

   $ tar xvf /vol/dev/aliases/floppy0

   All files on the diskette are copied to the current directory.

5. Verify that the files have been retrieved.

   $ ls -l

6. Remove the diskette from the drive.

Example 29-16 Retrieving Files From a Diskette (tar)

The following example shows how to retrieve all the files from a diskette.

$ cd /home/smith/Evaluations
$ volcheck
$ tar xvf /vol/dev/aliases/floppy0
x evaluation.doc, 44032 bytes, 86 tape blocks
x evaluation.doc.backup, 43008 bytes, 84 tape blocks
$ ls -l

The following example shows how to retrieve an individual file from a diskette. The file is extracted from the diskette and placed in the current working directory.

$ volcheck
$ tar xvf /vol/dev/aliases/floppy0 evaluation.doc
x evaluation.doc, 44032 bytes, 86 tape blocks
$ ls -l

Archiving Files to Multiple Diskettes

If you are copying large files onto diskettes, you want to be prompted to replace a full diskette with another formatted diskette. The cpio command provides this capability. The cpio commands you use are the same that you would use to copy files to tape, except you would specify /vol/dev/aliases/floppy0 as the device instead of the tape device name.

For information on how to use the cpio command, see How to Copy All Files in a Directory to a Tape (cpio).