Create

Wizard

Run the app via command line:

ark

Follow on-screen prompts:

1. Run the app and select option 1.
2. Provide a source directory or file
3. Provide destination directory (leave blank to use the working directory)
4. Give the archive a name.

Command Line

Provide a source directory, destination directory and name of archive.

The name of the archive denotes the name of the part files. For example, if you choose 'pic24' the files will be named:

• pic24.m
• pic24.0
• pic24.1
• pic24.2
• pic24.3
• pic24.5

ark -s /path/to/source -d /path/to/destination -n name_archive

Name of archive cannot have equals sign.

Backup

Please ensure you keep additional copies of the metadata file, ending with the .m. You can never have too many copies.

Create Technical

Following process is followed during creation:

1. Checks user specified directory or file exists
2. Checks user specified output directory exists. If not present, working directory used as the default
3. Create temp archive of directory or file
4. Erasure code split temp archive into parts (3 parts with 2 parity)
5. Erasure coding integrity check of existing parts
6. Temp archive deleted
7. Metadata file created for each part