Dump – filesystem dump/restore utilities

Last Updated on July 10, 2021

Dump examines files in a filesystem, determines which ones need to be backed up, and copies those files to a specified disk, tape or other storage medium. Subsequent incremental backups can then be layered on top of the full backup.

The restore command performs the inverse function of dump; it can restore a full backup of a filesystem.

Single files and directory subtrees may also be restored from full or partial backups in interactive mode.

Features include:

• Backup ext2/ext3 filesystems to tape or another disk.
• Use dump on unmounted and read-only filesystems.
• Use dump on idle filesystems if you sync before dumping.
• Never changes the filesystem while dumping it.
• Used across a network by piping its output through bzip2 then ssh.
• Dump levels, offering a full dump or incremental backups.
• Transparently write archives which span more than one tape.
• Handles all kinds of strange things, such as files with holes, files with unbelievably long filenames, files with strange symbols in the filenames.
• Non-interactive and interactive restores.
• Bypasses the kernel’s filesystem interface.

Website: dump.sourceforge.io
Support: Mailing Lists
Developer: Stelian Pop
License: BSD License

Dump is written in C. Learn C with our recommended free books and free tutorials.

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