Date: Sat, 11 Apr 1998 17:02:05 +0200 (SAT)
From: Paul Sheer <psheer@obsidian.co.za>
To: linux-announce@sws1.ctd.ornl.gov, mirrordir@lava.obsidian.co.za,
Subject: Mirrordir (almost) version 1.0 released


(This is actually version 0.9.23 which will become version 1.0 should
there not be any problems reported after some more public exposure. Note
that this software is still *BETA*, albeit late beta.)

Mirrordir is a powerful utility for copying and mirroring directories and
files locally or over ftp. It is principally used to mirror a local
directory with a minimal set of changes since the last mirror - this can
be used for timed backups of entire drives. In addition, it can do the
same function to and from ftp sites, using the Midnight Commander's
Virtual File System (vfs).

Copydir is the same as mirrordir, but does not delete files from the
mirrored directory. It can be used like a version of cp that takes URL's
on the command line.

Mirrordir is a *DANGEROUS* command since it will delete files from the
target directory that do not exist in the source directory. Copydir should
mostly be used instead.

The mirrordir *HOME PAGE* is:
	http://www.obsidian.co.za/mirrordir

Subscribe to the mirrordir *MAILING LIST* by sending a line
	subscribe mirrordir
in the body of a message to
	majordomo@mail.obsidian.co.za

Send *BUG REPORTS* comments or suggestions to
	mirrordir@mail.obsidian.co.za

Here is the *LSM FILE*:
(mirrordir has been uploaded to the sunsite `incoming' directory, be sure 
to get the latest version.)

Begin3
Title:          Mirrordir
Version:        0.9.23
Entered-date:   27FEB98
Description:    Mirrordir mirrors a directory tree in every detail,
                including devices, ownerships, permissions, symlinks,
                hardlinks and access times, suitable for timed backups
                of disk drives. The minimal set of changes needed to
                make the original directory tree identical to the backup
                directory tree is executed. Written in C with autoconf.
                Can optionally create backup files before deleting, and
                store multiple revisions through any number of levels.
                Works over ftp and mcfs.
Keywords:       backup, mirror, copy, cp, mirrordir, recursive,
                directory trees, revision control, ftp, mc, vfs,
                mcfs.
Author:         psheer@obsidian.co.za (Paul Sheer)
Maintained-by:  psheer@obsidian.co.za (Paul Sheer)
Primary-site:   lava.obsidian.co.za /pub/linux/mirrordir
                175kB mirrordir-0.9.23.tar.gz
                1kB mirrordir.lsm
Alternate-site: sunsite.unc.edu /pub/Linux/system/backup
                175kB mirrordir-0.9.23.tar.gz
                1kB mirrordir.lsm
Platforms:      Any Unix
Copying-policy: GPL
End

some *EXAMPLE* uses of mirrordir are:

        copydir -v mirrordir-0.9.23.tar.gz mirrordir.lsm ftp://sunsite.unc.edu/incoming/Linux/ 
  is how I upload it to the sunsite. 

        copydir -v ftp://lava.obsidian.co.za/pub/mirrordir/mirrordir-0.9.23.tar.gz ./
  is how you can get the latest version.

        mirrordir -v  /  /mnt/slave   --exclude /mnt 
  is how you can backup your whole disk with a minumal set of changes.

        mirrordir -v /home/httpd/html/psheer -p pAsSwOrD ftp://psheer@ra.obsidian.co.za/home/httpd/html/psheer 
  is how I update my home page directory from my local machine.
  
You can also use mirrordir to mirror ftp archives where the ftp site does
not support recursive ls - (i.e. where a normal mirror will fail).

Many thanks to James R. Van Zandt <jrv@vanzandt.mv.com> for his
contributions. Also thanks to the NANDOS fast food chain for
partially funding this project - another shining example of how
free software development marries so well with commercial interests :-)

-paul