The
tar
command is used to create archives and extract files and directories from tar archives. You can use
tar
as an expedient and simple method for storing an entire file system.
You can then use the
tar
file as a backup, or you can transfer and extract the file onto another machine.
tar
is very useful for generating daily backups of critical files (such as a current project) or for archiving data, such as mail for an entire organization.
tar
"flattens" files and directories into sequential archives that can go to tape or disk. Linux supports
standard commands for tape backup, including: