NAME

       cback3-span - Span staged data among multiple discs

SYNOPSIS

       cback3-span [switches]

DESCRIPTION

       This  is  the  Cedar Backup 3 span tool.  It is intended for use by people who back up more data than can
       fit on a single disc.  It allows a user to split (span) staged data between more than one disc.  It can't
       be a Cedar Backup extension in the usual sense because it requires user input when switching media.

       Generally,  one  can run the cback3-span command with no arguments.  This will start it using the default
       configuration file, the default log file, etc.  You only need to use the switches if you need  to  change
       the default behavior.

       This  command  takes most of its configuration from the Cedar Backup configuration file, specifically the
       store section.  Then, more information is gathered from the  user  interactively  while  the  command  is
       running.

MIGRATING FROM VERSION 2 TO VERSION 3

       The  main  difference  between  Cedar  Backup version 2 and Cedar Backup version 3 is the targeted Python
       interpreter.  For most users, migration should be straightforward.  See the discussion found at cback3(1)
       or reference the Cedar Backup user guide.

SWITCHES

       -h, --help
              Display usage/help listing.

       -V, --version
              Display version information.

       -b, --verbose
              Print  verbose  output  to the screen as well writing to the logfile. When this option is enabled,
              most information that would normally be written to the logfile will also be written to the screen.

       -c, --config
              Specify the  path  to  an  alternate  configuration  file.   The  default  configuration  file  is
              /etc/cback3.conf.

       -l, --logfile
              Specify the path to an alternate logfile.  The default logfile file is /var/log/cback3.log.

       -o, --owner
              Specify  the ownership of the logfile, in the form user:group.  The default ownership is root:adm,
              to match the Debian standard for most logfiles.  This value will only be used when creating a  new
              logfile.   If  the  logfile  already exists when the cback3 script is executed, it will retain its
              existing ownership and mode.  Only user and group names may be  used,  not  numeric  uid  and  gid
              values.

       -m, --mode
              Specify  the permissions for the logfile, using the numeric mode as in chmod(1).  The default mode
              is 640 (-rw-r-----).  This value will only be used when creating a new logfile.   If  the  logfile
              already exists when the cback3 script is executed, it will retain its existing ownership and mode.

       -O, --output
              Record some sub-command output to the logfile. When this option is enabled, all output from system
              commands will be logged. This might be useful for debugging or just for reference.

       -d, --debug
              Write debugging information to the logfile. This option produces a  high  volume  of  output,  and
              would  generally only be needed when debugging a problem. This option implies the --output option,
              as well.

       -s, --stack
              Dump a Python stack trace instead of swallowing exceptions.  This forces Cedar Backup to dump  the
              entire  Python  stack  trace  associated with an error, rather than just progating last message it
              received back up to the user interface.  Under some circumstances, this is useful  information  to
              include along with a bug report.

       -D, --diagnostics
              Display runtime diagnostic information and then exit.  This diagnostic information is often useful
              when filing a bug report.

RETURN VALUES

       This command returns 0 (zero) upon normal completion, and six other error  codes  related  to  particular
       errors.

       1      The Python interpreter version is < 3.4.

       2      Error processing command-line arguments.

       3      Error configuring logging.

       4      Error parsing indicated configuration file.

       5      Backup was interrupted with a CTRL-C or similar.

       6      Other error during processing.

NOTES

       Cedar  Backup  itself  is  designed  to  run  as  root,  since otherwise it's difficult to back up system
       directories or write the CD or DVD device.  However, cback3-span can be run safely as any user  that  has
       read access to the Cedar Backup staging directories and write access to the CD or DVD device.

SEE ALSO

       cback3(1)

FILES

       /etc/cback3.conf - Default configuration file

       /var/log/cback3.log - Default log file

URLS

       The project homepage is: https://github.com/cedarsolutions/cedar-backup3

BUGS

       If you find a bug, please report it.

       If  possible,  give  me  the output from --diagnostics, all of the error messages that the script printed
       into its log, and also any stack-traces (exceptions) that Python printed.  It would be even better if you
       could tell me how to reproduce the problem, for instance by sending me your configuration file.

       Report bugs to <support@cedar-solutions.com> or via GitHub issues tracker.

AUTHOR

       Written and maintained by Kenneth J. Pronovici <pronovic@ieee.org> with contributions from others.

COPYRIGHT

       Copyright (c) 2004-2011,2013-2017,2019 Kenneth J. Pronovici.

       This  is  free  software;  see  the  source  for  copying conditions.  There is NO warranty; not even for
       MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.