bruce wrote: > > > ISTR that the original caution was against writing scripts that assume > > > anything being emitted to stderr must indicate a problem. > > > > The relevant NEWS entry from GNU tar 1.16 is: > > > > """ > > * After creating an archive, tar exits with code 1 if some files were > > changed while being read. Previous versions exited with code 2 (fatal > > error), and only if some files were truncated while being archived. > > Docs updated and backpatched to 8.2.X: > > Also, some versions of GNU <application>tar</> consider it an error > if a file was truncated while <application>tar</> is copying it. > Fortunately, GNU <application>tar</> versions 1.16 and later exits > with <literal>1</> if a file was changed during the backup, and > <literal>2</> for other errors. I have updated the documentation to mention that the real problem is an "indistinguishable" error return code: Also, some versions of GNU <application>tar</> return an error code indistinguishable from a fatal error if a file was truncated while <application>tar</> was copying it. Fortunately, GNU <application>tar</> versions 1.16 and later exits with <literal>1</> if a file was changed during the backup, and <literal>2</> for other errors. -- Bruce Momjian <bruce@xxxxxxxxxx> http://momjian.us EnterpriseDB http://www.enterprisedb.com + If your life is a hard drive, Christ can be your backup. + ---------------------------(end of broadcast)--------------------------- TIP 5: don't forget to increase your free space map settings