Files and paths · Lesson 24 of 36 · 8 minutes

Archive verification

List archive contents and compare checksums before trusting a backup.

Open the lab Course map

Mastery 0/3Run itExplain itApply it

learner@clairos:~ $

↑ history · Tab complete · Ctrl+C cancel · Esc, Tab to leaveExit 0

Your objectives

Hints are always available. Wrong turns never cost XP.

1
Create site archive
Run tar -cf backups/site-check.tar /srv/www/index.html.
Hint & worked example
Practice archive inventory, creation, and extraction in a simulated archive format.
The command outcome must match the task, including successful access or the explicitly requested failure.
```
tar -cf backups/site-check.tar /srv/www/index.html
```
Remember: These training archives are virtual data structures, not downloadable production tar files.
2
List site archive
Run tar -tf backups/site-check.tar.
Hint & worked example
Practice archive inventory, creation, and extraction in a simulated archive format.
The command outcome must match the task, including successful access or the explicitly requested failure.
```
tar -tf backups/site-check.tar
```
Remember: These training archives are virtual data structures, not downloadable production tar files.
3
Read manifest again
Run cat backups/manifest.txt.
Hint & worked example
Read one or more files to standard output without editing their contents.
The command outcome must match the task, including successful access or the explicitly requested failure.
```
cat backups/manifest.txt
```
Remember: Reading a source file should precede changing it; avoid printing real secrets.

Understand the pattern

Junior operators build confidence by gathering evidence before changing systems.

tar: Practice archive inventory, creation, and extraction in a simulated archive format.
These training archives are virtual data structures, not downloadable production tar files.
cat: Read one or more files to standard output without editing their contents.
Reading a source file should precede changing it; avoid printing real secrets.

Worked example and expected result

$ tar -cf backups/site-check.tar /srv/www/index.html

created archive /home/learner/backups/site-check.tar

Exit status: 0. The command completed successfully in the training fixture.

$ tar -tf backups/site-check.tar

/srv/www/index.html

Exit status: 0. The command completed successfully in the training fixture.

$ cat backups/manifest.txt

backup-2026-05-26.tar includes README.txt and /srv/www/index.html
verify checksum before restore
restore into /home/learner/restore first

Exit status: 0. The command completed successfully in the training fixture.

Try a variation

Repeat this workflow in the sandbox with a different scratch filename. Keep the system fixtures unchanged and compare the observed output with your expectation before moving on.

Explain it

In “Archive verification”, which interpretation is safe?A successful first check guarantees that every dependent service is healthy.These training archives are virtual data structures, not downloadable production tar files.A command appearing in history proves it completed successfully.

Apply it elsewhere

Before adapting the tar workflow from “Archive verification” to another server, what should you do?Confirm the current directory, target identity, permissions, and the installed command behavior first.Paste the training paths unchanged into production.Skip output inspection whenever the command is familiar.

Keep the momentum.

Complete the lab, then explain and apply the pattern.

Next: Checksum compare Try an incident drill

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