---
name: "backup-whatsthis"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "chiark-backup"
version: "8.0.1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/backup-whatsthis"
---

# backup-whatsthis(1)

read an id off a tape and display it

## NAME

backup-whatsthis - read an id off a tape and display it

## SYNOPSIS

**backup-whatsthis** \[**--list** \[*n*\]\]\

## DESCRIPTION

\`backup-whatsthis' is a simple script to display the TAPEID of the current tape and optionally list its contents.  This script is a bit of a hack and may not be fully reliable.

## OPTIONS

- **--list**

  \[*n*\] Print TAPEID then list archive n (default 0). Note that archives are numbered from zero.

## FILES

- */etc/chiark-backup/settings.pl*

  Configuration file for the whole of chiark-backup

## BUGS

\`backup-whatsthis' is currently hardwired to assume \`cpio' type backups when listing; it could be trivially hardwired to assume \`zafio'  or with slightly more effort it could be done properly :-\>.

## AUTHOR

This Manual page was written by Matthew Vernon \<matthew@debian.org\> but  may be used by anyone.

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright (C) 1997-1998,2000-2001 Ian Jackson \<ian@chiark.greenend.org.uk\>\
 Copyright (C) 1999 Peter Maydell \<pmaydell@chiark.greenend.org.uk\>\
 This is free software; see the source for copying conditions.  There is NO warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.