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Problem extracting from TAR archives which have been compressed by tar.php
January 24, 2013
10:36 am
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lakenjr
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Newly installed WordPress/XCloner.  Creating backups of database and files.  As per default, I left the SERVER USE OPTIONS INACTIVE, which I believe means that tar.php is used by default.

The archive filesize was around 280mb.

I tried to extract from the tar archive using 7Zip on PC and using Cpanel's extract on the server.  NEITHER WORKED.

I repeated the Cpanel extract on another server provided by a completely different hosting company – it still did not work.

7Zip errored with Cannot open file " xxxxx " as archive

EXTRACT errored with Skipping to next header ……. Skipping to next header …. Exiting with failure status due to previous errors.

So – 7zip and Extract both found my tar archive to be corrupt in some way.

———- 

PROBLEM SOLVED for me by ACTIVATING SERVER USE OPTIONS.  This, of course, uses the tar compress utility of the server and it resulted in a slightly larger file (310mb rather than 280mb) .  But the resulting tar archive worked perfectly in all situations.

COULD THERE BE A PROBLEM WITH tar.php when compressing my files?

It was too inconvenient to also try using tar.php to do an extract – so I do not know if that would have worked.  Even if it worked, it would not be satisfactory if the archive could not be used with industry-standard extract programs like 7Zip and CPanel's extract.

I am going to continue with SERVER USE OPTIONS ACTIVE.  However, if there is a bug with tar.php, that could affect other users of XCloner who may not have carried out a recent test to see if they are extractable.

Apart from investigating this possible bug, may I suggest that you consider making the default SERVER USE OPTIONS ACTIVE which may be more robust than tar.php

NOW A COMPLIMENT I started using Joomla Cloner which became XCloner. I think XCloner is an excellent product.  Oviidiu was very helpful and responsive when I needed help to install the product for Joomla.  I recommend XCloner to others – but do make sure you test occasionally that your backup archive files will actually work. 

January 25, 2013
7:07 pm
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Ovidiu Liuta
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Try and use a ftp client when downloading the archive and make sure the downloaded size matches the original one! 

 

There is no bug inside the packing system, but if you still have issues after the above, please let me know!

January 26, 2013
3:38 pm
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lakenjr
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I have two examples of problem .tar files.  In each case, I tried to run Cpanel-Extract using the files as they were on the server (so they had not been through a download or an FTP).  

It was only after Cpanel-Extract failed that I downloaded to a PC to see if 7zip would work (it did not).  Cpanel-Extract extracted some of the files and then stopped with an error message.

I am happy to give you access to these .tar files (280mb) if you tell me how to transmit them or grant you access. 

For completeness, I have also downloaded one of the files to a PC with filezilla (FTP client)  - checked filesizes were OK and then tried to run 7zip  which errored as before.

 

(error mesages from 7zip and from Cpanel-Extract are indicated in my original post)

January 26, 2013
4:15 pm
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Ovidiu Liuta
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You can send us your site details through our premium support system, do you have any error messages when generating the backup? also, have you checked the disk space available?

January 26, 2013
8:55 pm
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lakenjr
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Thanks for the advice.  As my backups made with  SERVER USE OPTIONS ACTIVE work for me, I am  going to regard this topic as closed for now.

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