To execute a simple backup using TAR in Linux, enter the following command at the prompt:

tar -cvf /dev/st0 /home<enter>

(home is used as an example of a directory.)

For more information on the different switches for TAR, enter the following command at the prompt:

man tar<enter>

Other useful tape related commands in Linux:

• mt -f /dev/st0 status -- information regarding the tape drive
• mt -f /dev/st0 rewind -- rewind the media
• mt -f /dev/st0 reten -- retension the media
• mt -f /dev/st0 erase -- erase data on the media
• tar -tvf /dev/st0 -- verify the contents of the tape using tar
• tar -xvf /dev/st0 -- restore the contents of the tape using tar