cpio command in Linux with Examples

cpio stands for “copy in, copy out“. It is used for processing the archive files like *.cpio or *.tar. This command can copy files to and from archives.

Synopsis:

• Copy-out Mode: Copy files named in name-list to the archive

  Syntax:

  cpio -o < name-list > archive

• Copy-in Mode: Extract files from the archive

  Syntax:

  cpio -i < archive

• Copy-pass Mode: Copy files named in name-list to destination-directory

  Syntax:

  cpio -p destination-directory < name-list

Policy Options:

• -i, –extract: Extract files from an archive and it runs only in copy-in mode.
• -o, –create: Create the archive and it runs only in copy-out mode.
• -p, –pass-through: Run in copy-pass mode.
• -t, –list: Print a table of contents of all the inputs present.

Operation modifiers valid in any Mode:

• -B: Changes the I/O block size to 5120 bytes.
• -c: Use the old portable (ASCII) archive format.
• -C, –io-size=NUMBER: Set the I/O block size to the given particular NUMBER of bytes.
• -D, –directory=DIR: Changes to Directory DIR.
• -H, –format=FORMAT: Use given arc.
• -v, –verbose: List the files processed in a particular task.
• -V, –dot: Print “.” for each file processed in a particular task.
• -W, –warning=FLAG: Control warning display. Currently FLAG is one of ‘none‘, ‘truncate‘, ‘all‘.

Examples:

• To create a *.cpio file : We can create *.cpio files containing files and directory with the help of cpio command.

  Syntax:

  cpio -ov < name-list > archive

  Here -ov is used as -o create the new archive and -v list the files processed.

  

• To extract a *.cpio file: We can extract *.cpio files containing files and directory with the help of cpio command.

  Syntax:

  cpio -iv < archive

  

• To create *.tar archive file using cpio: The cpio helps to create a *.tar archive.

  Syntax:

  cpio -ov -H tar > archive

  

• To extract *.tar archive file using cpio: The cpio helps to extract *.tar files containing files and directory.

  Syntax:

  cpio -iv -F < archive

  

• To create a *.cpio archive with selected files: We can create *.cpio files containing specific files with the help of cpio command. In the example we are using .txt files.

  Syntax:

  find . -iname "*.txt" | cpio -ov > archive

  

• To create a *.tar archive with selected files: We can create *.tar files containing specific files with the help of cpio command. In the example we are using .txt files.

  Syntax:

  find . -iname "*.txt" | cpio -ov -H tar > archive

  

• To only view *.tar archive file using cpio: The cpio helps to view *.tar files containing files and directory.

  Syntax:

  cpio -it -F < archive

  

Note:

• To check for the manual page of cpio command, use the following command:

   man cpio

• To check the help page of cpio command, use the following command:

   cpio --help