Re: [Bug-tar] tar 1.15.1 fails creating multivol tape archive, outputs incorrect error

[Jim Faulkner]

On Wed, 6 Apr 2005, Sergey Poznyakoff wrote:

> Earlier versions of tar did not check the length of the file name while
> writing volume header, allowing long filenames to overwrite other data
> from the header. Depending on the circumstances, this lead to various
> problems (http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/bug-tar/2004-08/msg00012.html).

I've restored this partition several times over the years with older
versions of Gnu tar (most recently just a few days ago).  I've never seen
any error messages when doing a restore.  If tar does not detect that the
volume header is incorrect, is there a potential for corrupted data?  Or
will only the file ownership/permissions/times be corrupted?

> Please try the attached patch. While still producing a warning message
> it will store a truncated filename in the multivolume header, which
> should be safe in most circumstances.

So does that mean that with this patch, the filename will be truncated
upon restore?  E.g. if this file:
c64/traunstaas_C64_dats/Commodore64 E-M (Corinthian 0.3)/Mystery Of The Nile, 
The (MadeInSpain&SoftwareCreations&Firebird)(19xx)(triad).zip
happens to fall on the volume boundary, it will be named:
c64/traunstaas_C64_dats/Commodore64 E-M (Corinthian 0.3)/Mystery Of The Nile, 
The (MadeInSpain&Softw
or something similar after restoring it?

> Please inform me if it works for you.

I'll start a backup when I get home tonight.

thanks,
Jim Faulkner