---
name: "tarsnap.conf"
section: "5"
platform: "linux"
package: "tarsnap"
version: "1.0.41-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/tarsnap.conf"
---

# tarsnap.conf(5)

configuration file for tarsnap(1)

## NAME

**tarsnap.conf** – configuration file for [tarsnap(1)](/tarsnap/1.md)

## DESCRIPTION

The **tarsnap.conf** file is read by the [tarsnap(1)](/tarsnap/1.md) utility and specifies default options which will be ignored if the options in question are specified at the command line. Options may be specified in */etc/tarsnap/tarsnap.conf* and/or *~/.tarsnaprc*; if the two files conflict, the user's local configuration takes precedence.

The **tarsnap.conf** file(s) contain lines consisting of a case-sensitive option name and zero or one parameters depending upon the option. Empty lines and lines starting with a ‘#’ character are ignored.

If a parameter begins with a ‘~’ character, it will be replaced by the home directory of the effective user ID.

The following options may be specified:

- **aggressive-networking**

  - **cachedir** *cache-dir*

  - **checkpoint-bytes** *bytespercheckpoint*

  - **disk-pause** *X*

  - **exclude** *pattern*

  - **force-resources**

  - **humanize-numbers**

  - **include** *pattern*

  - **insane-filesystems**

  - **iso-dates**

  - **keyfile** *key-file*

  - **lowmem**

  - **maxbw**

  - **maxbw-rate**

  - **maxbw-rate-down**

  - **maxbw-rate-up**

  - **nodump**

  - **normalmem**

  - **no-aggressive-networking**

  - **no-config-exclude**

  - **no-config-include**

  - **no-disk-pause**

  - **no-force-resources**

  - **no-humanize-numbers**

  - **no-insane-filesystems**

  - **no-iso-dates**

  - **no-maxbw**

  - **no-maxbw-rate-down**

  - **no-maxbw-rate-up**

  - **no-nodump**

  - **no-print-stats**

  - **no-quiet**

  - **no-retry-forever**

  - **no-snaptime**

  - **no-store-atime**

  - **no-totals**

  - **print-stats**

  - **quiet**

  - **retry-forever**

  - **snaptime** *file*

  - **store-atime**

  - **totals**

  - **verylowmem**

  Each option is handled the same way as the corresponding **--option**; see [tarsnap(1)](/tarsnap/1.md) for more details. Note that the **normalmem** and **no-\*** options are only useful in the user-specific *~/.tarsnaprc* configuration file, at which point they act to override options set in the global */etc/tarsnap/tarsnap.conf* configuration file.

## FILES

- */etc/tarsnap/tarsnap.conf*

  The system global **tarsnap.conf** configuration file. Parameters specified here only take effect if they are not specified via the current user's local configuration file or via the command line.

- *~/.tarsnaprc*

  The **tarsnap.conf** configuration file for the current user. Parameters specified here take effect unless they are specified via the command line.

## SEE ALSO

[tarsnap(1)](/tarsnap/1.md)