Linux - Copy and follow symlinks

If you want to copy and follow symlinks, use these arguments:

cp -rfL source dest

Tar following symlinks

Hi!

Suppose that we have to tar gzip a directory that contains two symlinks.

ROOT_DIRECTORY
     SYMLINK_A
     SYMLINK_B



SYMLINK_A
     FILE_A
     FILE_B

SYMLINK_B
     FILE_C
     FILE_D



If you use the usual command tar -zcvf ROOT_DIRECTORY.tgz ROOT_DIRECTORY

You will get an archive that contains two symbolic links.

ROOT_DIRECTORY
     SYMLINK_A
     SYMLINK_B



If you want to include the content of symbolic links, you need to add a "h" just after the "c",

The command is tar -zchvf ROOT_DIRECTORY.tgz ROOT_DIRECTORY

You will get the directory including all the files under the ROOT_DIRECTORY

ROOT_DIRECTORY
     SYMLINK_A
          FILE_A
          FILE_B

     SYMLINK_B
          FILE_C
          FILE_D