Cpio Man

GNU cpio: A Versatile Tool for File Archiving and Extraction

Introduction

GNU cpio is a powerful command-line utility that enables users to copy files between archives and directories. It supports various archive formats, making it a versatile tool for data archival, backup, and extraction.

Creating Archives with cpio

To create a cpio archive, use the following syntax:

``` cpio -o - - ```

Commonly used create flags include:

• -o: Create a new archive
• -0: Create an uncompressed archive
• -a: Append files to an existing archive

Supported format flags include:

• -c: Create a cpio archive
• -t: Create a tar archive

Extracting Files from Archives with cpio

To extract files from a cpio archive, use the following syntax:

``` cpio -i ```

Commonly used extract flags include:

• -i: Extract files from an archive
• -v: Verbose output, showing the files being extracted
• -D: Extract files to a specific directory

cpio automatically recognizes the archive format and extracts files accordingly.

Additional cpio Options

cpio supports a wide range of additional options, including:

• -H format: Set the header format (e.g., bin, crc)
• -M message: Add a message to the archive
• -O user: Specify the user to own the extracted files
• -F archive: Read or write to an archive from a file instead of standard input/output

Conclusion

GNU cpio is a powerful and versatile tool for file archiving and extraction. Its support for multiple archive formats and customization options make it suitable for various data management tasks. Understanding the syntax and options of cpio enables users to effectively work with compressed archives and ensure data integrity during storage and transfer.