Re: Create a catalog from the rpm database

Hello,

> The script method is, I thing, the best approach as it does not put
> any dependency between libdar and rpm tools, thus brings a robust
> solution against changes in libdar and changes in rpm tools. It has
> however the drawback to need creating a faked directory tree (using
> sparse files as you described). Another way would be to have libdar be
> rpm aware or have rpm tool able to generate a dar snapshot backup,
> it's not evident it would be faster and it would be complicated to
> maintain. Last another way would be to extend libdar API to let an
> application specifying the contents to be used to generate a snapshot
> backup, such application would also be rpm aware and could replace
> your script without the drawback of creating temporary files ... well,
> so far, I could not find any API simple enough to be easily useable...

Although I use dar for some time now already, I must say it is always
interesting to re-read the documentation as I almost always find something I
haven't noticed before :-). This time, I was looking to see if it is
possible to somehow programmatically pipe the directory contents to dar to
take as a snapshot. A simple ls -la listing is probably not good enough for
dar to parse (not enough mtime resolution) but it might not be a bad idea
for the future to have the ability to somehow specify the contents of the
filesystem to libdar instead of it checking the filesystem. I also thought
of programming the catalogue myself (I have written a dar Total Commander
(Windows) plugin so I do have some knowledge of the dar file structure), but
writing a valid catalogue would be much harder than reading an already
existing one ;-)

> If you want, I can add your script with other existing ones in dar
> documentation ( http://dar.linux.free.fr/doc/samples/index.html ).
> Else I can also add a link in external tools toward an URL where you
> could maintain and keep up to date your script eventually adding
> features, and so on.

I don't have the URL for the script, just what I sent to the list, I wanted
first to get some feedback and see if the idea is feasible.
I'll do more tests and see how the archives end up eventually...

Thanks,

Regards, gulikoza



------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WatchGuard Dimension instantly turns raw network data into actionable 
security intelligence. It gives you real-time visual feedback on key
security issues and trends.  Skip the complicated setup - simply import
a virtual appliance and go from zero to informed in seconds.
http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/clk?id=123612991&iu=/4140/ostg.clktrk