NAME
     tar - write tar format archives

SYNOPSIS
     tar [-]{crtux}[befmopvwBHLPX] [tarfile] [blocksize] file1 [file2...]

DESCRIPTION
     The tar command is implemented as a front-end to pax(1).

     Tar will read old or standard tar format archives, and write old tar
     archives.  The default blocksize for character special archive files is
     10240.  All blocksizes less than or equal to 32256 that are multiples of
     512 are supported.

OPTIONS
     As in historical tar implementations you may omit the initial dash `-' on
     the option bundle.  One and only one of the following is required:

     -c      Create a new tarfile.

     -r      Append the named files.

     -t      Print table of contents.

     -u      Files are appended as with -r.

     -x      Extract the named files.

     The optional arguments are:

     -b      Set blocking factor (requires argument blocksize).

     -e      stop after first error

     -f      Specify archive name (requires argument tarfile), default is
             $TAPE.

     -m      Do not preserve modification time of extracted files.

     -o      Write very old style tar archive, omitting the storage of direc-
             tories.

     -p      Preserve file User Id, Group Id, file mode, and access/modifica-
             tion times.

     -v      Verbose.

     -w      Interactive file rename.

     -B      Ignore blocking (this is the default, this option is for compati-
             bility only).

     -H      Only follow symlinks listed on the command line.

     -L      Follow all symbolic links to perform a logical file system
             traversal.

     -P      Do not follow symbolic links, perform a physical file system
             traversal.  This is the default mode.

     -X      Do not cross filesystem mount points.

EXAMPLES

     tar cvf tarfile /usr
             Archive everything under /usr.
     tar tvf tarfile
             List the contents of the tarfile archive.

SEE ALSO
     pax(1)

BUGS
     A case can be made that tar should write standard archives by default,
     rather than old-style archives.