---
name: "osinfo-db-export"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "osinfo-db-tools"
version: "1.12.0-3"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/osinfo-db-export"
---

# osinfo-db-export(1)

Export to a osinfo database archive

## NAME

osinfo-db-export - Export to a osinfo database archive

## SYNOPSIS

osinfo-db-export \[OPTIONS...\] \[ARCHIVE-FILE\]

## DESCRIPTION

The **osinfo-db-export** tool will create an osinfo database archive file containing the content from one of the standard local database locations:

- **system**

  This is the primary system-wide database location, intended for use by operating system vendors distributing database files in the native package format.

- **local**

  This is the secondary system-wide database location, intended for use by system administrators wishing to provide an updated database for all users.

- **user**

  This is the user private database location, intended for use by unprivileged local users wishing to provide applications they use with an updated database.

If run by a privileged account (ie root), the **local** database location will be used by default, otherwise the **user** location will be used.

If no **ARCHIVE-FILE** path is given, an automatically generated filename will be used, taking the format **osinfo-db-$VERSION.tar.xz**.

## OPTIONS

- **--user**

  Override the default behaviour to force archiving files from the **user** database location.

- **--local**

  Override the default behaviour to force archiving files from the **local** database location.

- **--system**

  Override the default behaviour to force archiving files from the **system** database location.

- **--dir=PATH**

  Override the default behaviour to force archiving files from the custom directory **PATH**.

- **--root=PATH**

  Prefix the database location with the root directory given by `"PATH"`. This is useful when wishing to archive files that are in a chroot environment or equivalent.

- **--version=VERSION**

  Set the version string for the files in the archive to **VERSION**. If this argument is not given, the version will be set to the current date in the format **YYYYMMDD**.

- **--license=LICENSE-FILE**

  Add `"LICENSE-FILE"` to the generated archive as an entry named "LICENSE".

- **-v**, **--verbose**

  Display verbose progress information when archiving files

## EXIT STATUS

The exit status will be 0 if all files were packed successfully, or 1 if at least one file could not be packed into the archive.

## SEE ALSO

`"osinfo-db-import(1)"`, `"osinfo-db-path(1)"`

## AUTHORS

Daniel P. Berrange \<berrange@redhat.com\>

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright (C) 2016 Red Hat, Inc.

## LICENSE

`"osinfo-db-export"` is distributed under the terms of the GNU LGPL v2+ license. This is free software; see the source for copying conditions. There is NO warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE