[CentOS] Taring up the OS - how to exclude directories

[Robert]

Robert Moskowitz wrote:
> From the howto:  http://www.faqs.org/docs/securing/chap29sec305.html
>
> I got some ideas to help me to tar up the OS.  I had already been 
> shown how to wrap it into SSH to deposit the tar file on another 
> system, so I tried the following:
>
> tar cpvzf - -C / --exclude  home --exclude  media --exclude  mnt 
> --exclude  proc --exclude  */lost+found | ssh root at 10.0.0.2 
> "cat>backup-060907.tgz"
>
> But, whereas the howto is talking about --exclude dealing with files, 
> the Centos Man on tar is saying that it applies to files.
>
>
> So what is wrong?  I know the SSH stuff is correct as when I put in 
> something like ls I get a file with result of the ls.  Also I had done 
> this without the excludes and of course it died slowing when it got to 
> /media/cdrom   :(

I recall that before USB2, when tape backup made sense, I used an 
"exclude file" rather than doing it on the command line.  I also 
remember that "/"s most definitely affect the outcome. I believe that if 
you'll look at the info pages (not man) for tar, you'll find a few 
examples buried in the document that will make the tar part of your 
puzzle crystal clear.