mutiple volume tar

1)create
tar -c -M --tape-length=102400 --file=disk1.tar largefile.tgz

The value 102400 is 1024 x 100, which will create a 100 Meg file called disk1.tar and then Tar will prompt for volume 2 like below :-

Prepare volume #2 for disk1.tar and hit return:

In the time of tape drives you would have taken the first tape out of the machine and inserted a new tape, and pressed return to continue. As we want Tar to create the remaining 50 Meg in a separate file, we issue the following command :-

n disk2.tar





2) merge
#tar -x -M --file=disk1.tar
Prepare volume #2 for `disk1.tar' and hit return: n disk2.tar