HP-UX

So tar is limited (8GB) , and cpio is even more limited (2GB).
It's a pity that the latest HP-UX does not do anything about it.
Then the remaining options are

Code:

pax -w /path/to/folder | gzip -c > folder.tar.gz

View the contents with

Code:

gunzip -c folder.tar.gz | tar tf -

(Extract with tar xf - or pax -r)
Or use pax' own format (extractable only with pax)

Code:

pax -w -x pax /path/to/folder | gzip -c > folder.tar.gz

View the contents with

Code:

gunzip -c folder.pax.gz | pax

(Extract with pax -r)
Or install zip and unzip

Code:

zip -r zipfile /path/to/folder

View the contents with

Code:

unzip -l zipfile

(Extract with just unzip)

My concern is what method will you be using to transfer such file after... If I believe what you are saying we might end with a unique file of (X)XX GB, do you intend sending this via network???
The last option not mentionned yet is using fbackup... my preference would be follwing Peasant's solution... as I have no morean HP-UX to test...

Remember also that you can use pipes...between servers... and so archive on one side and unarchive on the remote host