Backup NTFS files to Linux FS using tar

stevepa · 2014-12-22 20:58:09

I would like to use tar to backup Windows files and restore them.
Is it better to backup Windows using a native program?
Or, will tar work ok?

Details:
I have a partition that I formatted NTFS that I use for Windows and Linux sharing (128GB).

I would like to backup these files with tar and store the backup on a Linux FS.

I tested this scenario:

tar cvzpf /root/winfiles.tgz mnt/Winshare

where Winshare is a NTFS partition.

Comparing permissions pre backup and post restore, seem to be the same from Linux and Windows perspectives.

Is this a useable tar command to do this?
Any comments welcome.
Tks
Steve.

PS
Review of wiki and forums was not especially useful.

Last edited by stevepa (2014-12-22 20:59:06)

graysky · 2014-12-22 21:07:45

Dunno how NTFS permissions are or are not honored by tar...

the_shiver · 2014-12-22 21:32:51

is backing up the entire partition an option? if yes maybe https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Partclone (only backs up used clusters)

stevepa · 2014-12-22 22:17:08

@the_silver,

The thought crossed my mind to do a partition clone like you describe, but I thought why a another tool when tar might just work fine.

I think I saw a similar technique where dd was piped to gzip to create a compressed file also.

I will investigate tar more, and if it presents a problem, I will consider partclone.

Linux is great because you have so many potential ways to solve a problem.

tks
steve.

nomorewindows · 2014-12-22 22:45:35

pkZip does preserve NTFS, and of course is more readily readable in Windows than tar.

nstgc · 2014-12-22 23:18:16

Looking at PartClone, would I then be able to restore the partition and still be able to use Windows? I like to reinstall Windows every now and then, but it would sure be easier to just copy a fresh install over the old one. I tried something that before using dd, but it failed. Windows wouldn't recognize it as a legitimate installation.

nomorewindows · 2014-12-23 00:25:53

There's a disk signature in there somewhere. Then it has to be in the exact place where the parition was, and etc. I always just squeeze Windows down, so it's not taking up the whole drive and dual booting back and forth. This is too much effort to just have windows around, just squeeze the partition, and put Linux on it in the empty space.
Of course, you could just leave windows as is, and PXE boot into ArchLinux from an ArchLinux host, and then Windows can be its' own backed up archive. (Re)Installing Windows is just too much of a pain to do that everytime.

Last edited by nomorewindows (2014-12-23 00:27:16)

thisllub · 2015-03-04 05:23:53

There is a real problem backing up any windows files that has to do with short filenames.
I have seen it with Tivoli on an SQL Server system that totally stumped the Windows guys.
It was obvious to me.

Some MSoftware like uses short filenames in the registry.
e.g.
"\Program Files\Microsoft SQLServer" = PROGRA~1
"\Program Files\Microsoft Office" = PROGRA~2

on restore
"\Program Files\Microsoft SQLServer" = PROGRA~2
"\Program Files\Microsoft Office" = PROGRA~1

Arch Linux

#1 2014-12-22 20:58:09

Backup NTFS files to Linux FS using tar

#2 2014-12-22 21:07:45

Re: Backup NTFS files to Linux FS using tar

#3 2014-12-22 21:32:51

Re: Backup NTFS files to Linux FS using tar

#4 2014-12-22 22:17:08

Re: Backup NTFS files to Linux FS using tar

#5 2014-12-22 22:45:35

Re: Backup NTFS files to Linux FS using tar

#6 2014-12-22 23:18:16

Re: Backup NTFS files to Linux FS using tar

#7 2014-12-23 00:25:53

Re: Backup NTFS files to Linux FS using tar

#8 2015-03-04 05:23:53

Re: Backup NTFS files to Linux FS using tar

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