Torleiv Flatebo Ringer wrote: > Is there a reason why you need to create a file? You can use tar as a > "pass-through" to create a mirror. Or you could use rsync. > > bash$ cd /dirtobackup > bash$ tar c * | tar x -C /mnt/lrp > > This will copy files from your linux box to your windows machine, > preserving time stamps. > > Use rsync: > > bash$ cd / > bash$ rsync -rltv /dirtobackup/ /mnt/lrp > > If you use rsync, you can run this as many times as you like, and it > will compare the source with the target. > > Note that you will not be able to back up all files when the system is > running. (/var/run, /lib, etc.) there is nothing on a linux system that would prevent you (unlike windows). so to say that you not be able to is incorrect. as to if you should... well, that is a different beast, but linux being what it is it can be done without too much harm. In fact i have many times done a tar over netcat to dupe systems while they are running, yes some daemons complain at the next power on for the new system and if not using dhcp then an IP conflict occurs, but otherwise the duping process works like a charm. the only caveat is that you will want to --exclude /proc and create a new /proc on the target system. -- Munir Nassar