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Archiving Files on the Command Line

In this hands-on lab, we will practice archiving and compression. Archiving is often used for backing up and moving files, and the ability to create compressed archives is a fundamental skill for a systems architect. By the end of this lab, you will be familiar with creating and working with archives.

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Path Info

Level
Clock icon Beginner
Duration
Clock icon 45m
Last updated
Clock icon Aug 23, 2025

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Table of Contents

  1. Challenge

    Create a Normal Archive

    1. Use the following command to create a tarball of the ~/Practice folder named archive.tar:
    tar cvf archive.tar Practice/

  2. Challenge

    Add the File `~/extra.txt` to `archive.tar`

    1. Use the following command to add the file ~/extra.txt to the existing tarball:
    tar rf archive.tar extra.txt

  3. Challenge

    Create a Compressed Archive

    1. Now create another tarball, but this time, compress it during creation with the following command:
    tar czf archive.tgz Practice/

  4. Challenge

    Compress the Normal Archive

    1. Use the gzip utility to compress the first tarball (archive.tar) with maximum compression:
    gzip -9 archive.tar
    1. This will compress the file and rename it archive.tar.gz.

  5. Challenge

    Extract the File `Practice/Test/version.txt` from `archive.tar.gz`

    1. Use the following command to extract the file Practice/Test/version.txt from the compressed archive archive.tar.gz:
    tar xzf archive.tar.gz Practice/Test/version.txt
    1. This will extract the file to the existing path and overwrite the file if it exists.
Pluralsight Skills - Labs - Pluralsight
Author
Pluralsight Skills

Pluralsight Skills gives leaders confidence they have the skills needed to execute technology strategy. Technology teams can benchmark expertise across roles, speed up release cycles and build reliable, secure products. By leveraging our expert content, skill assessments and one-of-a-kind analytics, keep up with the pace of change, put the right people on the right projects and boost productivity. It's the most effective path to developing tech skills at scale.

What's a lab?

Hands-on Labs are real environments created by industry experts to help you learn. These environments help you gain knowledge and experience, practice without compromising your system, test without risk, destroy without fear, and let you learn from your mistakes. Hands-on Labs: practice your skills before delivering in the real world.

Provided environment for hands-on practice

We will provide the credentials and environment necessary for you to practice right within your browser.

Guided walkthrough

Follow along with the author’s guided walkthrough and build something new in your provided environment!

Did you know?

On average, you retain 75% more of your learning if you get time for practice.
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