[Bug-tar] -A option is not treating links correctly

[Newman, Phillip A. (GSFC-6602)]

I have a disk archive with a huge number of inodes(> 80M).  To tar this 
efficiently, I use a number of lists.  The notion is to write these to one tar 
file, then dd the tarfile to tape.  To create the lists, I use a find script, 
then use the split command to break the list up into smaller pieces that tar 
can handle.  I then use the following script:
=============
#!/bin/csh

set log = /MOU/Feb2013/DDDIR
set src = /hostess/vol
cd $src
set dest = /incr_backup
@ ktr = 0
foreach one ( `ls $log/x*` )
   if ($ktr == 0 ) then
      tar -T $one -cvf $dest/03272013.03272013.RXTE.XTE_IDX1.MASTER.gz.1.tar >& 
$log/03262013.03262013.RXTE.XTE_IDX1.MASTER.gz.1.log
      @ ktr++
   else
      tar -T $one -Avf $dest/03272013.03272013.RXTE.XTE_IDX1.MASTER.gz.1.tar 
>>& $log/03262013.03262013.RXTE.XTE_IDX1.MASTER.gz.1.log
   endif
   echo "Done $one..."
end
===========

The first tar command works fine.  The second tar command using the -A option 
faults when it encounters the first link:

tar: ./RXTE/XTE_IDX1/AO1/P10255/10255-01-07-00/cal: Read error at byte 0, while 
reading 4096 bytes: Is a directory
tar: Error is not recoverable: exiting now

This is NOT a directory.  It is a link.  I believe the default is supposed to 
backup the link to the tar ball, not try to follow it.

I think this is a bug, but maybe I need a different option.  

Thanks!

-Phil

Phillip A. Newman
Head, Code Office of Scientific Computing
660.2
Astrophysics Science Division
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
8800 Greenbelt Rd.
B34, E219F
Greenbelt, MD 20771
Phone: 301-286-3920