Tar too large to archive. Use E function modifier.

UNIX Solaris
1

hey all,

i am trying to tar up a folder with sub folders the over all size will be about 70gb
but when i use the normal command

tar -cvf  tar -cvf CLPSI_PRU_Escrow_31994.tar CLPSI_PRU_Escrow_31994

i get an error tar:

CLPSI_PRU_Escrow_31994/dump1/PROD_SAE_jria3_dump.5 too large to archive.  Use E function modifier.

so i used the E function but then get another error

tar: conversion routines not available for current locale.  file (CLPSI_PRU_Escrow_31994): UTF-8 conversion failed.

can anyone please help, all i want to do is tar up the folder and then encrypt the data with gpg

2

Try that:

LC_ALL=C tar cEvf CLPSI_PRU_Escrow_31994.tar CLPSI_PRU_Escrow_31994
3

thanks that seems to be doing the trick

4

Please bear in mind, that using the E modifier produces non portable tar archives, afaik.

5

what does this mean? i am tarring up some database dumps and transfering them to another system. the transfer is done by USB

6

As far as I know, the header format produced under the E modifier can only be read by the Solaris tar and star (BerliOS Developer: Project Summary - star).

7

The only realistic tar alternative - GNU tar - also produces non-portable tar archives.

As long as the OP can untar the tarballs, though, portability is an academic concern.

8

Right, but the OP did not say, on what kind of system he wants to untar the tarball. If it is not Solaris, then it will most likely not be possible. And it might be helpful, to know this in advance.

9

the strange thing about this is that, i had a similar batch job on a Solaris 8 box tarring up at least 70-80 gb using -cvf without any problems. but on this Solaris 10 box i can tar 70-80 gb without using the cEvf.

I am not sure what platform the recieve of the data is using. i am presuming it is solaris

10

The whole archive size isn't your limitation here. The issue might be individual files larger that 8 GB or having a full path larger than 255 characters.