[OS X TeX] backing up /usr (and MacTeX)

[Peter Dyballa]

Am 30.01.2009 um 14:18 schrieb Alex Hamann:

> Would it be sufficient to just copy the whole /usr directory to a  
> backup drive?


No, that's overkill – at least when you do a "save & upgrade" (or  
such) installation. Then you'll find /usr/local and other trees in / 
Previous Systems.localized/Vorheriges System 1. Once the installation  
has finished, missing Mac OS X packages were updated or installed,  
you just do:

	sudo mv "/Previous Systems.localized/Vorheriges System 1/usr/local" / 
usr

and maybe some more non-system directory trees in /Previous  
Systems.localized/Vorheriges System 1/usr. Later use the TeX PrefPane  
to set paths etc. – they're also moved away into /Previous  
Systems.localized/Vorheriges System 1/private/etc ...


In case you're going to repartition your disk (i.e. "erase &  
install") you can drag /usr/local to some external drive and drag  
back afterwards. There'll be one (potential) problem: ownership!  
Could be creating an archive from the Finder context menu remedies  
this – check it first. The best advice is to use SuperDuper!,  
CabonCopyCloner, ...

Manually, saving all from /usr/local:

  • cd /usr
  • sudo tar cf /Path/To/Some/External/Device/usr_local.tar local

To reinstall:

  • cd /usr
  • sudo tar xf /Path/To/Some/External/Device/usr_local.tar

Tar has options to change block size or to compress.

--
Mit friedvollen Grüßen

   Pete

Es gibt 10 Sorten Leute: solche, die binär verstehen, und solche, die  
es nicht verstehen.