Description of problem: When using -v (verbose) and -f (output file) options and specifying /dev/stdout as argument tar produces corrupted archive. Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable): tar (GNU tar) 1.15.1 tar-1.15.1-23.0.1.el5 How reproducible: Always Steps to Reproduce: 1. tar -cvf /dev/stdout [files or dirs] > output.tar Actual results: resulting file is not a valid tar archive. the file listing is mixed with actual content. Expected results: Additional info: Long description of the problem: http://www.redhatmagazine.com/2007/10/24/tips-from-an-rhce-splitting-tar-archives-on-the-fly/#comment-36513 When using -f file listing is printed on stdout. Tar is not checking if the argument to -f is "/dev/stdout". When not using -f standard output is assumed by default and tar will send file listing to stderr. That's bug either in code or documentation. I haven't seen manual page indicating that -v and -f may lead to corrupted archives. The "-f /dev/stdout" is not really necessary but it's used to make the command more human friendly.
This request was evaluated by Red Hat Product Management for inclusion, but this component is not scheduled to be updated in the current Red Hat Enterprise Linux release. This request will be reviewed for a future Red Hat Enterprise Linux release.
Changing version to '9' as part of upcoming Fedora 9 GA. More information and reason for this action is here: http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/BugZappers/HouseKeeping
As I'm new tar maintainer - and as the fixed manpage is part of F9/Rawhide tar, closing that bugzilla RAWHIDE. Feel free to add any comments if you have something to discuss about that issue.