> I want to make a backup from one machine directly into a tar file on
> another machine. How could I do that? I'm thinking about something
> like: tar -c / | rcp ...
You'll have to dig for more details (i.e. how tar accompishes this), but
if you are using GNU tar (the standard debian tar), I found this in a
quick search of the info page:
To specify an archive file on a device attached to a remote machine,
use the following:
--file=HOSTNAME:/DEV/FILE NAME
`tar' will complete the remote connection, if possible, and prompt you
for a username and password. If you use `--file=@HOSTNAME:/DEV/FILE
NAME', `tar' will complete the remote connection, if possible, using
your username as the username on the remote machine.
If the archive file name includes a colon (`:'), then it is assumed
to be a file on another machine. If the archive file is
`USER@HOST:FILE', then FILE is used on the host HOST. The remote host
is accessed using the `rsh' program, with a username of USER. If the
username is omitted (along with the `@' sign), then your user name will
be used. (This is the normal `rsh' behavior.) It is necessary for the
remote machine, in addition to permitting your `rsh' access, to have
the `/usr/ucb/rmt' program installed.