Backup Tar

[Doug Hardie]

On Saturday, Jun 28, 2003, at 05:48 US/Pacific, Bill Moran wrote:

> DanB wrote:
>> If I  tar my  files on freebsd box then FTP them to a window 98 box 
>> can
>> I use that file to reinstall on a new Freebsd box?
>
> You're a little vague ...
>
> But as long as you do the FTP transfer in binary mode you'll be able to
> unpack the tar archive again.  If you properly tarred up everything
> you need, you should be able to restore the system.
> "reinstalling" is a slightly different matter, as you'll have to first
> create the proper partitions, newfs the filesystems and install boot
> blocks.

I find it easier to do a new system install on the new computer first 
to get everything set that tar doesn't handle and then untar the backup 
on top of it.  That way the system will always boot properly.