snapsplit Command

Purpose

To split a snap output file into multiple smaller files of arbitrary or specified size.

Syntax

snapsplit [ -s size ] [ -H machinename ] [ -f filename ]

snapsplit -u -T timestamp [ -H machinename ]

Description

The snapsplit command is used to split a snap output file into smaller files. This command is useful for dealing with very large snap files. It breaks the file down into files of a specific size that are multiples of 1 megabyte. Furthermore, it will combine these files into the original file when called with the -u option.

The output files are named as following: snap.machinename.timestamp.pax.Z.xxx. Machinename is the hostname and timestamp is in the format MMDDYYHHMMSS. In addition, xxx represents the extension for the split files which is crucial when putting these files back together. The extensions from the start of the files go in the following order: xaa, xab, xac, xad, xae ..., xaz, xba, xbb, xbc, xbd, ..., xbz, xca, xcb, xcc, ....

When performing ls on these files, the first file listed would represent the top of the original file and the last file, the end of the original file.

Note that this command should only be used for snap files that are paxed and compressed. When executed on local system where snap output was gathered, the -H option need not be used. That flag is provided for the case where user has moved a complete snap file to a remote system and wishes to split it. Any machine name may be selected, but it is recommended, to use the machine name where data was collected.

Flags

Item	Description
-f filename	Input snapsplit file. It should be a compressed pax file. The default is snap.pax.Z.
-H machinename	Name of the host machine. If none is specified, the default is the current host. Care must be exercised to name snap files for the appropriate system.
-s size	Specifies the size of snap output in multiples of 1 MB. The last file will be smaller or equal to this size. Size should be entered in megabytes. The default size is 1 MB.
-T timestamp	Timestamp of the snapsplit files to use in restoring the original snap output. It is in the format MMDDYYHHMMSS, where MM for month, DD for day, YY for year, HH for hours, MM is for minutes and SS is for seconds.
-u	Flag used for rejoining snapsplit files. Used with the -T flag.

Examples

To split the default snap file (snap.pax.Z should be in the current directory), enter the following:
```
snapsplit
```
The output of this command is written to current directory.
To split file snap.somefile.pax.Z from system doe, enter the following:
```
snapsplit -H doe -f snap.somefile.pax.Z
```
Note: The resulting files will be named snap.doe.MMDDYYHHMMSS.pax.Z.
To restore a file for which the snap files (snap.sue.102303141211.xxx) are for system sue, and timestamp 102303141211, type:
```
snapsplit -u -T 102303141211 -H sue
```
Attention: If any one of the snap files is missing or has been renamed, the snap file created will corrupted.
To restore a snap file from files with time stamp 102603084512, and which are for the current system, type:
```
snapsplit -u -T 102603084512
```
To gather general system configuration information, including the output of the lslpp -hBc command, type the following:
```
snap -g -o /dev/rfd0
```
Output is written to the /tmp/ibmsupt/general/lslpp.hBc and /tmp/ibmsupt/general/general.snap files. This command also writes the system information to a removable diskette.

Files

Item	Description
/usr/sbin/snapsplit	Contains the snapsplit command.