Error: tar command failed in backup logs: "File changed as we read it"
- Product: Aleph
- Product Version: 20, 21, 22, 23
- Relevant for Installation Type: Dedicated-Direct, Direct, Local, Total Care
Problem Symptoms:
The ora_software backup uses tar to pack all relevant files into a compressed, split tar files
This Message at the end of the backup log files may indicate an error with backups:
"tar: Exiting with failure status due to previous errors
tar command failed {status=1}"
After searching for these errors, (grep ^tar in relevant log file/s), you find the following:
"File changed as we read it"
Cause/Resolution:
This error is displayed when a file being handled by the tar process is changed / deleted during the tar action.
This is a warning that informs you that a file handled by the tar process might not be tar-ed. It does not actually mean that the backup has failed
If no application process (or Apache/PDS) is running during the backup you shouldn't worry about this warning. As long as you actually have a tar file of a similar size for the successful backup in the /exlibris/backup_file directory, there shouldn't be a problem. The file that is not being tarred is likely a non-essential log file.
If the error is in the prd_software log and the file is in the .../aleph.orig/.../tmp directory, this symbolic link from the .../aleph.orig/.../tmp to the active /tmp directory should be removed. (There is no need to back up tmp directory files as part of this Aleph software backup.)
Additional Info
See also Backup errors:in user_data_a5_Detail and prd_software_a4_Detail: "File removed before we read it"
- Article last edited: 28-Feb-2016