Jesse Keating wrote: > On Wed, 2005-06-08 at 07:09 -0400, Neal Becker wrote: >> >> If the change that causes /var/log/lastlog to be a huge sparse file is >> accepted, it is _imperative_ that all common backup tools be updated >> to >> support sparse by default. Actually, I don't understand why this >> isn't the >> default anyway, except that it is a tiny bit slower (on Linux systems >> it >> shouldn't be significantly slower). >> > > You're going to have to tell me what 'default' is. The backup tools I > use don't do anything by default except give me a usage statement.... > If I understand correctly, tar will only handle sparse files properly if told to explicitly, using the --sparse flag. Unless tar defaults to handling sparse intelligently without the flag, 85% of all fedora sysadmins are going to be really pissed.