Replace the native taring utility with gnu tar

Replace the native taring utility with GNU tar.

Before you begin

Check the version of tar command you have at present by entering the following command:

#tar --version

For a GNU tar utility the output would conform to the following:

tar (GNU tar) 1.14
Copyright (C) 2004 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
This program comes with NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.
You may redistribute it under the terms of the GNU General Public License;
see the file named COPYING for details.
Written by John Gilmore and Jay Fenlason.

If the resulting output does not indicate a GNU tar utility then perform the following steps.

Procedure

  1. Find the native tar location.
    #which tar
    /usr/bin/tar
  2. Move the native binary tar command:
    #cd /usr/bin
    #mv tar tar_
  3. Install the GNU tar, which can be obtained from the toolbox site:

    For example, refer the following toolbox site for AIX® http://www-03.ibm.com/systems/power/software/aix/linux/toolbox/download.html

    Set the install location to be something similar to /opt/freeware/bin/tar

  4. Create a gnu tar soft link:
    ln -s  /opt/freeware/bin/tar /usr/bin/tar
  5. Validate that the tar command is gnu tar:
    #tar --version

    Resulting output should be as stated in prerequisite step.