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

[Robert]

Robert Moskowitz wrote:
> Robert wrote:
>> 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.
>>
> At the very end of info tar, it talks a LITTLE bit about -- exclude 
> PATTERN.
>
> I guess you have to know what pattern means.  So should I be using 
> entries like:
>
> --exclude '/home'  ?
O.K., I mounted my USB drive, went back in my archived stuff and found 
this "exclude" file:
-----------------------------
[root at mavis ~]# cat /media/OT*/extra/FC1*/home/rj/nobackup
/mnt
/dev
/proc
/home/rj/mnt
/media
[root at mavis ~]#
------------------------
You can use this rather than several --exclude entries on the command by 
using the option -X <exclude-file-name>.
Whatever suits you just tickles me plumb to death.