Case-sensitive file names dilemna

I have inherited a mega-GB tar file from an old unix system which,
needless to say, had case-sensitive file names. I am afraid there could
be many files there whose names differ only in case and could get
clobbered if I unpacked on my mac.

Is there a way to unpack the tar-file w/o losing any files? If not, is
there a way to examine *and* change filenames in advance before
unpacking?

 

If you have a spare partition to sacrifice you can format it as UFS or you
can now with Panther turn on case-sensitivity in HFS for that volume.

Greg

 

Or create a disk image file with Disk Utility and format it as the Unix
File System.

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That's very interesting. Does it break anything to enable case sensitivity
by default, even on the root volume?

Oh, and how do you do this? Does it have to be during the initial fs init?

Greg Shenaut

 

Yes, much more convenient.

Greg

 

Yep:

cd /System/Library/CoreServices/
sudo cp SystemVersion.plist ServerVersion.plist

Now when you run "diskutil eraseDisk" you'll see there is a "Case-sensitive
HFS+" option.

Greg

 

Enter the following search string into Google

panther case sensitive hfs

and you will get lots of links, including ones that detail the risks
that you might encounter.

Bob Harris

 

You can create a ufs partition and avoid the problem. The question is,
how much work is this for you? If you only have one disk drive you'll
have to back it up and re-partition it. If you have an external lying
around, that's easiest.

 

You can do that? What's the magic incantation?

 

Yep (if my previous post didn't show up your server):

cd /System/Library/CoreServices/
sudo cp SystemVersion.plist ServerVersion.plist

Now when you run "diskutil eraseDisk" you'll see there is a "Case-sensitive
HFS+" option.

I may do one partition up that way, probably the one I have formatted as UFS.

Greg

 

Yes. A lot of applications.

I'm running a system on UFS (and another one on case sensitive HFS+) just
for fun... Even Apple's programs don't really deal to well with it.

Yes. Just use newfs to create an UFS or newfs_hfs -s for a case senstive
HFS+.


Noses.

 

touch will do nicely.

If you forget removing the ServerVersion.plist you'll have a lot of fun with
Software Update.


Noses.

 

Thanks, that was definitely an important omission on my part. Thanks for
the newfs switch in your other post, too, I'd forgotten about it.

Greg