bup-meta(1)						      General Commands Manual						       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]

DESCRIPTION

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

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 output 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 restora-
	      tion 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.

       -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.

       --numeric-ids
	      Apply numeric user and group IDs (rather than text IDs) 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.

       -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

BUGS

       Hard links are not handled yet.

BUP

       Part of the bup(1) suite.

AUTHORS

       Rob Browning <rlb@defaultvalue.org>.

Bup unknown-															       bup-meta(1)