Working with disks, tapes, and CD-ROMs

Extracting files from a cpio backup

To extract files from a cpio backup use the -i (input) mode:

cpio -i options < device files

cpio reads its input from the backup on device and extracts anything which matches the specified files. If, when you created the backup, you gave cpio a full pathname, the files will restore to their original location. If you gave cpio a relative pathname, you can restore the files to a different location. The following command restores the contents of the backup from device /dev/rfd096ds15 to your current directory:

   $ cpio -ivcd < /dev/rfd096ds15

The -v option displays the files as they are restored, -c tells cpio that there is a header, and -d creates subdirectories as needed.