---
name: "virt-tar-out"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "libguestfs"
version: "1.60.1-2"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/virt-tar-out"
---

# virt-tar-out(1)

Pack a virtual machine disk image directory into a tarball.

## NAME

virt-tar-out - Pack a virtual machine disk image directory into a tarball.

## SYNOPSIS

```
 virt-tar-out -a disk.img /dir files.tar
 virt-tar-out -d domain /dir files.tar
 virt-tar-out -d domain /dir - | gzip --best > files.tar.gz
```

## DESCRIPTION

`"virt-tar-out"` packs a virtual machine disk image directory into a tarball.

The first parameter is the absolute path of the virtual machine directory.  The second parameter is the tar file to write.  Use `"-"` to write to standard output.

## EXAMPLES

Download the home directories from a guest:

```
 virt-tar-out -d MyGuest /home - | gzip --best > homes.tar.gz
```

## JUST A SHELL SCRIPT WRAPPER AROUND GUESTFISH

This command is just a simple shell script wrapper around the [**guestfish**(1)](/guestfish/1.md) `"tar-out"` command.  For anything more complex than a trivial copy, you are probably better off using guestfish directly.

## OPTIONS

Since the shell script just passes options straight to guestfish, read [**guestfish**(1)](/guestfish/1.md) to see the full list of options.

## SEE ALSO

[**guestfish**(1)](/guestfish/1.md), [**virt-cat**(1)](/virt-cat/1.md), [**virt-copy-in**(1)](/virt-copy-in/1.md), [**virt-copy-out**(1)](/virt-copy-out/1.md), [**virt-edit**(1)](/virt-edit/1.md), [**virt-tar-in**(1)](/virt-tar-in/1.md), http://libguestfs.org/.

## AUTHORS

Richard W.M. Jones (`"rjones at redhat dot com"`)

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright (C) 2011-2025 Red Hat Inc.

## LICENSE

This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.

This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License for more details.

You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.

## BUGS

To get a list of bugs against libguestfs, use this link: https://bugzilla.redhat.com/buglist.cgi?component=libguestfs&product=Virtualization+Tools

To report a new bug against libguestfs, use this link: https://bugzilla.redhat.com/enter\_bug.cgi?component=libguestfs&product=Virtualization+Tools

When reporting a bug, please supply:

- •

  The version of libguestfs.

- •

  Where you got libguestfs (eg. which Linux distro, compiled from source, etc)

- •

  Describe the bug accurately and give a way to reproduce it.

- •

  Run [**libguestfs-test-tool**(1)](/libguestfs-test-tool/1.md) and paste the **complete, unedited** output into the bug report.