cpio stands for “copy in, copy out“. It is used for processing the archive files like *.cpio or *.tar. This command can copy files to and from archives.
Synopsis:
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Copy-out Mode: Copy files named in name-list to the archive
Syntax:
cpio -o < name-list > archive
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Copy-in Mode: Extract files from the archive
Syntax:
cpio -i < archive
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Copy-pass Mode: Copy files named in name-list to destination-directory
Syntax:
cpio -p destination-directory < name-list
Policy Options:
- -i, –extract: Extract files from an archive and it runs only in copy-in mode.
- -o, –create: Create the archive and it runs only in copy-out mode.
- -p, –pass-through: Run in copy-pass mode.
- -t, –list: Print a table of contents of all the inputs present.
Operation modifiers valid in any Mode:
- -B: Changes the I/O block size to 5120 bytes.
- -c: Use the old portable (ASCII) archive format.
- -C, –io-size=NUMBER: Set the I/O block size to the given particular NUMBER of bytes.
- -D, –directory=DIR: Changes to Directory DIR.
- -H, –format=FORMAT: Use given arc.
- -v, –verbose: List the files processed in a particular task.
- -V, –dot: Print “.” for each file processed in a particular task.
- -W, –warning=FLAG: Control warning display. Currently FLAG is one of ‘none‘, ‘truncate‘, ‘all‘.
Examples:
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To create a *.cpio file : We can create *.cpio files containing files and directory with the help of cpio command.
Syntax:
cpio -ov < name-list > archive
Here -ov is used as -o create the new archive and -v list the files processed.
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To extract a *.cpio file: We can extract *.cpio files containing files and directory with the help of cpio command.
Syntax:
cpio -iv < archive
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To create *.tar archive file using cpio: The cpio helps to create a *.tar archive.
Syntax:
cpio -ov -H tar > archive
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To extract *.tar archive file using cpio: The cpio helps to extract *.tar files containing files and directory.
Syntax:
cpio -iv -F < archive
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To create a *.cpio archive with selected files: We can create *.cpio files containing specific files with the help of cpio command. In the example we are using .txt files.
Syntax:
find . -iname "*.txt" | cpio -ov > archive
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To create a *.tar archive with selected files: We can create *.tar files containing specific files with the help of cpio command. In the example we are using .txt files.
Syntax:
find . -iname "*.txt" | cpio -ov -H tar > archive
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To only view *.tar archive file using cpio: The cpio helps to view *.tar files containing files and directory.
Syntax:
cpio -it -F < archive
Note:
- To check for the manual page of cpio command, use the following command:
man cpio
- To check the help page of cpio command, use the following command:
cpio --help