Hello,

if you are using amrestore to grab the image from tape, then:
    cd <working directory>
    amrestore -p [and other options] | tar -xpf -

the -p option in amrestore outputs the datastream to a pipe (stdout).
this sets up the buffering correctly.  the -p option in tar will restore
the files with the original dates and permissions.

if you know already the location of the image on tape, then
A) position tape 
    "mt -f <non-rewinding tape dev> fsf <filenumber>"

B) run "dd if=/dev/st1 count=1 bs=1024b of=test"    
    
C) read file "test".  note the first three lines will say something
like:
    AMANDA: FILE 20021219 jetstream hda1 lev 1 comp N program /sbin/dump
    To restore, position tape at start of file and run:
            dd if=<tape> bs=32k skip=1 | /sbin/restore -f... -
            
    this last line might read something like:
        dd if=<tape> bs=32k skip=1 | tar -xpf - ...

--jason
            

On Fri, Dec 20, 2002 at 11:26:07AM -0500, wab wrote:
> Greetings. I'm attempting to recover a filesystem which is about 15-18
> gigs in size. Amanda is using Tar to compress its archives... I tried to
> restore the "image" to a filesystem large enough to handle the data,
> before moving back to the original location; but I got a "File size
> limit exceeded". (It reached about 2.5 gigs in size).
> 
> I understand it's possible to Pipe the restore through TAR to
> de-compress it back to regular files; but I can't figure out the syntax
> exactly; has anybody ever done this? I think that's what I must do,
> either that or find a filesystem/operating system that can handle giant
> huge files.
> 
> I'll provide version numbers of the OS/amanda if necessary... Thanks
> 
> Wayne Byarlay
> ITD, Purdue Libraries
> wab AT purdue DOT edu
> 

-- 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jason Brooks ~ (503) 641-3440 x1861
      Direct ~ (503) 924-1861
System / Network Administrator 
Wind River Systems
8905 SW Nimbus ~ Suite 255      
Beaverton, Or 97008