DOKK / manpages / debian 12 / bup-doc / bup-meta.1.en
bup-meta(1) bup-meta(1)

bup-meta - create or extract a metadata archive

[-R] [-v] [-q] [--no-symlinks] [--no-paths] [-f file] <paths...>
[-v] [-q] [-f file]
[-v] [-q] [--numeric-ids] [--no-symlinks] [-f file]
[-v] [-q] [--numeric-ids] [--no-symlinks] [-f file]
[-v] [-q] [--numeric-ids] [-f file]
[--set-uid uid | --set-gid gid | --set-user user | --set-group group | ...] <paths...>

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

See bup-restore(1) for a description of the way ownership metadata is restored.

Create a metadata archive for the specified paths. Write the archive to standard output unless --file is specified.
Display information about the metadata in an archive. Read the archive from standard input unless --file is specified.
Extract a metadata archive. Conceptually, perform --start-extract followed by --finish-extract. Read the archive from standard input unless --file is specified.
Build a filesystem tree matching the paths stored in a metadata archive. By itself, this command does not produce a full restoration 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 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.
Edit metadata archives. The result will be written to standard output unless --file is specified.
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.
Recursively descend into subdirectories during --create.
don’t cross filesystem boundaries – though as with tar and rsync, the mount points themselves will still be handled.
Apply numeric IDs (user, group, etc.) rather than names during --extract or --finish-extract.
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.
Record pathnames when creating an archive. This option is enabled by default. Specify --no-paths to disable it.
Set the metadata uid to the integer uid during --edit.
Set the metadata gid to the integer gid during --edit.
Set the metadata user to user during --edit.
Remove the metadata user during --edit.
Set the metadata user to group during --edit.
Remove the metadata group during --edit.
Be more verbose (can be used more than once).
Be quiet.

# 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
# Change user/uid to root.
$ bup meta --edit --set-uid 0 --set-user root \


    src.meta > dest.meta

Hard links are not handled yet.

Part of the bup(1) suite.

Rob Browning <rlb@defaultvalue.org>.

0.33.2 Bup 0.33.2