UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

Hi all, my directory structure is as follows /a/b/c.
I would like to tar the /a directory including the subdirectories b and c.

i intend to use the command

Code:

tar -cvfz a.tgz a/

My question is where do i execute the command? do i execute it at the '/' prompt or at '/a' prompt ? My concern at executing it at '/a', is will the command go into a recursive loop? because the a.tgz will be created in the /a directory and it will keep tar-ing and zipping itself.

Don't put the tar file in the directory you are tarring up.

Code:

cd /a
tar cf - . | gzip >/tmp/a.tgz