NAME
xfs_metadump - copy XFS filesystem metadata to a file
SYNOPSIS
xfs_metadump [ -efgow ] [ -l logdev ] source target
DESCRIPTION
xfs_metadump is a debugging tool that copies the metadata from an XFS
filesystem to a file. The source argument must be the pathname of the
device or file containing the XFS filesystem and the target argument
specifies the destination file name. If target is -, then the output
is sent to stdout. This allows the output to be redirected to another
program such as a compression application.
xfs_metadump should only be used to copy unmounted filesystems, read-
only mounted filesystems, or frozen filesystems (see xfs_freeze(8)).
Otherwise, the generated dump could be inconsistent or corrupt.
xfs_metadump does not alter the source filesystem in any way. The
target image is a contiguous (non-sparse) file containing all the
filesystem’s metadata and indexes to where the blocks were copied from.
By default, xfs_metadump obfuscates most file (regular file, directory
and symbolic link) names and extended attribute names to allow the
dumps to be sent without revealing confidential information. Extended
attribute values are zeroed and no data is copied. The only exceptions
are file or attribute names that are 4 or less characters in length.
Also file names that span extents (this can only occur with the
mkfs.xfs(8) options where -n size > -b size) are not obfuscated. Names
between 5 and 8 characters in length inclusively are partially
obfuscated.
xfs_metadump should not be used for any purposes other than for
debugging and reporting filesystem problems. The most common usage
scenario for this tool is when xfs_repair(8) fails to repair a
filesystem and a metadump image can be sent for analysis.
The file generated by xfs_metadump can be restored to filesystem image
(minus the data) using the xfs_mdrestore(8) tool.
OPTIONS
-e Stops the dump on a read error. Normally, it will ignore read
errors and copy all the metadata that is accessible.
-f Specifies that the filesystem image to be processed is stored in
a regular file (see the mkfs.xfs -d file option). This can also
happen if an image copy of a filesystem has been made into an
ordinary file with xfs_copy(8).
-g Shows dump progress. This is sent to stdout if the target is a
file or to stderr if the target is stdout.
-l logdev
For filesystems which use an external log, this specifies the
device where the external log resides. The external log is not
copied, only internal logs are copied.
-o Disables obfuscation of file names and extended attributes.
-w Prints warnings of inconsistant metadata encountered to stderr.
Bad metadata is still copied.
DIAGNOSTICS
xfs_metadump returns an exit code of 0 if all readable metadata is
succesfully copied or 1 if a write error occurs or a read error occurs
and the -e option used.
NOTES
As xfs_metadump copies metadata only, it does not matter if the source
filesystem has a realtime section or not. If the filesystem has an
external log, it is not copied. Internal logs are copied and any
outstanding log transactions are not obfuscated if they contain names.
xfs_metadump is a shell wrapper around the xfs_db(8) metadump command.
SEE ALSO
xfs_repair(8), xfs_mdrestore(8), xfs_freeze(8), xfs_db(8), xfs_copy(8),
xfs(5)
BUGS
Email bug reports to xfs@oss.sgi.com.
xfs_metadump(8)