Backup Package: Primo software backup (p4): error message "tar: [...] file changed as we read it"

• Article Type: General
• Product: Primo

Problem Symptoms:
The following error messages appear in the log file of the Primo software backup (/exlibris/backup/logs/prd_software_p4_Detail_<date>_<time>.log):

tar: exlibris/primo/p4_1/log/pds_server.log: file changed as we read it
tar: exlibris/primo/p4_1/primoe/apache/logs/access_log_ssl: file changed as we read it
[...]

Cause:
The contents of the file mentioned in the error message "tar: [...] file changed as we read it" were modified while the program tar was backing up the file. The error message warns that the backup of the file may be inconsistent.

When this message appears during a backup of an Ex Libris product it usually refers to log files. Therefore it is safe to ignore the message.

Resolution:
Make the Primo software backup (p4) use the command tar with the additional option "--warning=no-file-changed". This option will suppress the error message "tar: [...] file changed as we read it".

In order enable the tar option "--warning=no-file-changed" please carry out the following steps:

(1)
Check the version of tar which the Ex Libris Backup Package uses by entering the following command as UNIX user primo:

$ tar --version

If this command reports the version "tar (GNU tar) 1.23" or a higher version then proceed to the next step.

Otherwise STOP. The solution described in this Article is not applicable.


(2)
Change line 8 of the script /exlibris/backup/scripts/primo_software

from:
tar -cvf - $files_no_slash | $GZIPEX | split -b2000m - ${DEVICE}.gz_

to:
tar -cvf - --warning=no-file-changed $files_no_slash | $GZIPEX | split -b2000m - ${DEVICE}.gz_


(3)
Start the Primo software backup (p4) again.