Hosting Operations
Deletes or truncates filesExtract a Backup Into a Restore Sandbox
You need to extract a backup into a dedicated restore-sandbox directory and list the restored files.
Command
cd restore-dr && rm -rf restore-sandbox/full && mkdir -p restore-sandbox/full && tar -xf backups/2026-06-25/site.tar -C restore-sandbox/fullBefore you run this
System impact: Deletes, truncates, or overwrites data. Requires backup, preview, and exact path review before production use.
When not to use it: Do not run extraction into /, /var/www, or a live application directory during a drill.
Expected output
A restored file list under restore-sandbox/full.
System impact
Deletes or truncates files. The existing restore-dr/restore-sandbox/full directory is removed and recreated, then the archive is extracted there.
When to use it
Use for restore drills where writing into an isolated sandbox is intentional.
When not to use it
Do not run extraction into /, /var/www, or a live application directory during a drill.
Recovery / rollback
Remove the restore-dr/restore-sandbox/full directory from the fixture copy. Never point the rm -rf path at production data.
Watch this command run
Example output from a temporary Linux lab
This example uses disposable sample files and sanitized output so you can inspect the shape of the result before touching a real system.
$ cd restore-dr && rm -rf restore-sandbox/full && mkdir -p restore-sandbox/full && tar -xf backups/2026-06-25/site.tar -C restore-sandbox/full
$ cd restore-dr && find restore-sandbox/full -type f | sed 's#^restore-sandbox/full/##' | sort
CHECKSUMS.sha256
app/config.yml
app/orders.csv
app/secrets.env
bin/deploy.sh
public/index.html
uploads/avatar.txtView reproducible demo details
These commands recreate the temporary example before running the command under review.
Reproduce this demo
cd restore-dr && rm -rf restore-sandbox/full && mkdir -p restore-sandbox/full && tar -xf backups/2026-06-25/site.tar -C restore-sandbox/fullcd restore-dr && find restore-sandbox/full -type f | sed 's#^restore-sandbox/full/##' | sort
next steps
Related commands
Verify Restored File Checksums
A restore is not validated until the bytes match.
cd restore-dr && rm -rf restore-sandbox/full && mkdir -p restore-sandbox/full && tar -xf backups/2026-06-25/site.tar -C restore-sandbox/full && (cd restore-sandbox/full && sha256sum -c CHECKSUMS.sha256)
Check Required Files After Restore
A successful extraction still needs a required-file check.
cd restore-dr && rm -rf restore-sandbox/full && mkdir -p restore-sandbox/full && tar -xf backups/2026-06-25/site.tar -C restore-sandbox/full && find restore-sandbox/full -type f | sed 's#^restore-sandbox/full/##' | sort | comm -23 required-files.txt -
Diff Restored Config Against Expected
A restored config can exist and still be the wrong config.
cd restore-dr && rm -rf restore-sandbox/full && mkdir -p restore-sandbox/full && tar -xf backups/2026-06-25/site.tar -C restore-sandbox/full && diff -u expected/app/config.yml restore-sandbox/full/app/config.yml
Find Missing Files in an Old Backup
The fastest failed restore drill is the one that finds missing critical files early.
cd restore-dr && tar -tf backups/2026-06-24/site.tar | sed 's#^./##' | sort | comm -23 required-files.txt -
List Archive Contents Before Extracting
You can inspect a tar backup before it writes a single file.
cd restore-dr && tar -tf backups/2026-06-25/site.tar | sed 's#^./##' | sort
Study mapping
Use this as independent command practice: read the notes, predict the output, then compare it with the example before using a real shell.
Useful for
- LPIC-1 style command-line practice
- LFCS style performance tasks
- Linux+ style troubleshooting review
Independent study support only. No affiliation, endorsement, exam dumps, or real exam questions.