bup-meta(1)

NAME
bup-meta - create or extract a metadata archive

SYNOPSIS

bup meta --create
    [-R] [-v] [-q] [--no-symlinks] [--no-paths] [-f file] <paths...>

bup meta --list
    [-v] [-q] [-f file]

bup meta --extract
    [-v] [-q] [--numeric-ids] [--no-symlinks] [-f file]

bup meta --start-extract
    [-v] [-q] [--numeric-ids] [--no-symlinks] [-f file]

bup meta --finish-extract
    [-v] [-q] [--numeric-ids] [-f file]

bup meta --edit
    [--set-uid uid | --set-gid gid | --set-user user | --set-group group | ...] <paths...>

DESCRIPTION
bup meta creates, extracts, or otherwise manipulates metadata archives. A metadata archive contains the metadata information (timestamps, ownership, access permissions, etc.) for a set of filesystem paths.

See bup-restore(1) for a description of the way ownership metadata is restored.

OPTIONS

-c, --create
    Create a metadata archive for the specified paths. Write the archive to standard output unless --file is specified.

-t, --list
    Display information about the metadata in an archive. Read the archive from standard input unless --file is specified.

-x, --extract
    Extract a metadata archive. Conceptually, perform --start-extract followed by --finish-extract. Read the archive from standard input unless --file is specified.

--start-extract
    Build a filesystem tree matching the paths stored in a metadata archive. By itself, this command does not produce a full restoration of the metadata. For a full restoration, this command must be followed by a call to --finish-extract. Once this command has finished, all of the normal files described by the metadata will exist and be empty. Restoring the data in those files, and then calling --finish-extract should restore the original tree. The archive will be read from standard input unless --file is specified.

--finish-extract
    Finish applying the metadata stored in an archive to the filesystem. Normally, this command should follow a call to --start-extract. The archive will be read from standard input unless --file is specified.

--edit
    Edit metadata archives. The result will be written to standard output unless --file is specified.

-f, --file=filename
    Read the metadata archive from filename or write it to filename as appropriate. If filename is “-”, then read from standard input or write to standard output.

-R, --recurse
    Recursively descend into subdirectories during --create.

--xdev, --one-file-system
    don’t cross filesystem boundaries – though as with tar and rsync, the mount points themselves will still be handled.

--numeric-ids
    Apply numeric IDs (user, group, etc.) rather than names during --extract or --finish-extract.

--symlinks
    Record symbolic link targets when creating an archive, or restore symbolic links when extracting an archive (during --extract or --start-extract). This option is enabled by default. Specify --no-symlinks to disable it.

--paths
    Record pathnames when creating an archive. This option is enabled by default. Specify --no-paths to disable it.

--set-uid=uid
    Set the metadata uid to the integer uid during --edit.

--set-gid=gid
    Set the metadata gid to the integer gid during --edit.

--set-user=user
    Set the metadata user to user during --edit.

--unset-user
    Remove the metadata user during --edit.

--set-group=group
    Set the metadata user to group during --edit.

--unset-group
    Remove the metadata group during --edit.

-v, --verbose
    Be more verbose (can be used more than once).

-q, --quiet
    Be quiet.

EXAMPLES

        # Create a metadata archive for /etc.
        $ bup meta -cRf etc.meta /etc
        bup: removing leading "/" from "/etc"
        # Extract the etc.meta archive (files will be empty).
        $ mkdir tmp && cd tmp
        $ bup meta -xf ../etc.meta
        $ ls
        etc
        # Restore /etc completely.
        $ mkdir tmp && cd tmp
        $ bup meta --start-extract -f ../etc.meta
        ...fill in all regular file contents using some other tool...
        $ bup meta --finish-extract -f ../etc.meta
        # Change user/uid to root.
        $ bup meta --edit --set-uid 0 --set-user root \
            src.meta > dest.meta

BUGS
Hard links are not handled yet.

BUP
Part of the bup(1) suite.

AUTHORS
Rob Browning rlb@defaultvalue.org