[Pc_Support] Re: Backup software suggestions (Windows, Cygwin or Linux)

[Bryan J. Smith]

On Sun, 2005-07-10 at 12:27 -0500, Bryan J. Smith wrote:
> Secondly, you have to consider the "value" of a Cygwin "pax" versus a
> true Windows 2000/XP "pax."  The former will use POSIX paths and values
> for USTAR (pax) extended attributes, and will not tie into the Windows
> extended attributes that 2000's "pax" could store.  Although I never did
> any major, formal testing, I wanted to say that 2000 Pro's "pax" could
> store some NTFS meta-data, but don't quote me.
> I really need to do a study of how "Windows native" the "pax" utility is
> in different programs.  It _would_ be nice if it could use the "pax" EAs
> to store NTFS/Windows-only stuff.  "pax" is merely an extensible USTAR
> format, so I don't see why not at least basic SID info can't be stored.
> Although that _could_ be why Microsoft removed it in XP/2003, because it
> wasn't working well.  Hence they UNIX-only "pax" in the Interix
> component of more recent SFU (it used to be MKS' toolkit in earlier
> versions).

Traditionally there has been CygWin, which provides a POSIX environment
atop of Windows, so you're not getting full Windows details.
  http://www.cygwin.com/  

Then there as been MinGW, which is a porting kit to Windows with more
native DOS/NT compatibility (drive letters, registry access,
etc...):    
  http://www.mingw.org/  

Now I don't see a "pax" for the latter either, but it might be included
somewhere.  Don't quote me.

Otherwise, there _is_ a "BsdTar" program for Windows that claims to do
full POSIX/SUS USTAR/pax:  
  http://sourceforge.net/project/shownotes.php?release_id=323655  

It's part of the GnuWin32 suite:  
  http://gnuwin32.sourceforge.net/  

Again, I don't know how "native" it is to Windows though.

Also, for completeness, it doesn't appear that there is a Windows
version of Jorg's Star -- and it is clearly POSIX-focused anyway:  
  http://cdrecord.berlios.de/old/private/star.html  

Hmmm, I guess I'm looking for the (vaporware?) ideal of a USTAR
compatible format that can store NT's Registry-SAM, NTFS meta-data,
etc...  Maybe it's a matter of using NT's backup to do the "system"
portion, then storing that with files in a USTAR format with whatever
tools are available.

I know I'm probably not the only schmuck who has been looking for this.
I'll research it when I have more time.


-- 
Bryan J. Smith                                     b.j.smith at ieee.org 
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