1 % bup-meta(1) Bup %BUP_VERSION%
2 % Rob Browning <rlb@defaultvalue.org>
7 bup-meta - create or extract a metadata archive
12 ~ [-R] [-v] [-q] [\-\-no-symlinks] [\-\-no-paths] [-f *file*] \<*paths*...\>
15 ~ [-v] [-q] [-f *file*]
18 ~ [-v] [-q] [\-\-numeric-ids] [\-\-no-symlinks] [-f *file*]
20 bup meta \-\-start-extract
21 ~ [-v] [-q] [\-\-numeric-ids] [\-\-no-symlinks] [-f *file*]
23 bup meta \-\-finish-extract
24 ~ [-v] [-q] [\-\-numeric-ids] [-f *file*]
28 `bup meta` either creates or extracts a metadata archive. A metadata
29 archive contains the metadata information (timestamps, ownership,
30 access permissions, etc.) for a set of filesystem paths.
35 : Create a metadata archive for the specified *path*s. Write the
36 archive to standard output unless **\-\-file** is specified.
39 : Display information about the metadata in an archive. Read the
40 archive from standard output unless **\-\-file** is specified.
43 : Extract a metadata archive. Conceptually, perform **\-\-start-extract**
44 followed by **\-\-finish-extract**. Read the archive from standard input
45 unless **\-\-file** is specified.
48 : Build a filesystem tree matching the paths stored in a metadata
49 archive. By itself, this command does not produce a full
50 restoration of the metadata. For a full restoration, this command
51 must be followed by a call to **\-\-finish-extract**. Once this
52 command has finished, all of the normal files described by the
53 metadata will exist and be empty. Restoring the data in those
54 files, and then calling **\-\-finish-extract** should restore the
55 original tree. The archive will be read from standard input
56 unless **\-\-file** is specified.
59 : Finish applying the metadata stored in an archive to the
60 filesystem. Normally, this command should follow a call to
61 **\-\-start-extract**. The archive will be read from standard input
62 unless **\-\-file** is specified.
64 -f, \-\-file=*filename*
65 : Read the metadata archive from *filename* or write it to
66 *filename* as appropriate. If *filename* is "-", then read from
67 standard input or write to standard output.
70 : Recursively descend into subdirectories during **\-\-create**.
73 : Apply numeric user and group IDs (rather than text IDs) during
74 **\-\-extract** or **\-\-finish-extract**.
77 : Record symbolic link targets when creating an archive, or restore
78 symbolic links when extracting an archive (during **\-\-extract**
79 or **\-\-start-extract**). This option is enabled by default.
80 Specify **\-\-no-symlinks** to disable it.
83 : Record pathnames when creating an archive. This option is enabled
84 by default. Specify **\-\-no-paths** to disable it.
87 : Be more verbose (can be used more than once).
94 # Create a metadata archive for /etc.
95 $ bup meta -cRf etc.meta /etc
96 bup: removing leading "/" from "/etc"
98 # Extract the etc.meta archive (files will be empty).
100 $ bup meta -xf ../etc.meta
104 # Restore /etc completely.
105 $ mkdir tmp && cd tmp
106 $ bup meta \-\-start-extract -f ../etc.meta
107 ...fill in all regular file contents using some other tool...
108 $ bup meta \-\-finish-extract -f ../etc.meta
112 Hard links are not handled yet.
116 Part of the `bup`(1) suite.