A Guide to Compressing and Decompressing Files in Linux

Compressing files saves disk space and makes data transfers faster. This article will guide you through the most common command-line tools for compressing and decompressing files and directories in the Linux operating system.

Understanding the Core Concepts: TAR vs. GZIP/BZIP2/XZ

To properly use the commands, you need to understand two distinct concepts:

  • tar (Tape Archive): This is an archiving tool. It bundles multiple files and directories into a single file (e.g., backup.tar) but does not compress it.
  • gzip, bzip2, xz: These are compression tools. They compress a single file to reduce its size (e.g., compressing backup.tar into backup.tar.gz).

Therefore, a .tar.gz file is essentially a group of files bundled by tar and then compressed by gzip to save space.

1. The .tar.gz (or .tgz) Format

This is the most popular compression format on Linux, using the gzip algorithm.

Compressing Files and Directories

Use the -z flag in the tar command to compress directly.

# Syntax: tar -czvf [archive-name.tar.gz] [directory-or-files-to-compress]
tar -czvf archive.tar.gz /home/user/public_html

Decompressing Files

Use the -x (extract) flag to decompress.

# Syntax: tar -xzvf [archive-name.tar.gz]
tar -xzvf archive.tar.gz

# Extract to a specific directory
tar -xzvf archive.tar.gz -C /home/user/backups

Viewing the Contents of a Compressed File

Use the -t (list) flag to view the contents without decompressing.

tar -tzvf archive.tar.gz

2. The .tar.bz2 Format

This format uses the bzip2 algorithm, which often provides slightly better compression than .gz but takes more time.

Compressing Files and Directories

Use the -j flag.

# Syntax: tar -cjvf [archive-name.tar.bz2] [data-to-compress]
tar -cjvf archive.tar.bz2 /home/user/public_html

Decompressing Files

Use the -j flag.

tar -xjvf archive.tar.bz2

3. The .zip Format

This format is very common and highly compatible with Windows. The zip and unzip commands handle both archiving and compression in one step.

Compressing Files and Directories

Use the zip command with the -r (recursive) flag to include subdirectories.

# Syntax: zip -r [archive-name.zip] [data-to-compress]
zip -r archive.zip /home/user/public_html

Decompressing Files

unzip archive.zip

# Extract to a specific directory
unzip archive.zip -d /home/user/backups

Viewing the Contents of a Compressed File

unzip -l archive.zip

Explanation of TAR Command Flags

  • -c (create): Create a new archive.
  • -x (extract): Extract files from an archive.
  • -t (list): List the contents of an archive.
  • -v (verbose): Show the progress in detail.
  • -f (file): Specify the archive file name to work with.
  • -z: Use the gzip compression algorithm.
  • -j: Use the bzip2 compression algorithm.
  • -C: Specify a target directory to extract files into.
Share:
Share
Rating:

( Total: 1 ratings. Average 5, scale: 1 to 5 )

Related Posts:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Frequently Asked Questions and Essential Knowledge about VietHosting Services

cPanel Hosting is a web hosting service that comes equipped with the cPanel control panel. It is one of the world's most popular hosting management systems, renowned for its intuitive graphical interface that allows users to easily manage their websites and servers without needing deep command-line knowledge.

Key tasks you can perform via cPanel:

  • File Management: Upload, download, edit, and organize your website's files.
  • Database Management: Intuitively create and manage MySQL databases.
  • Domain Management: Add, remove, and manage subdomains and addon domains.
  • Email Accounts: Create and manage email accounts with your own domain name.

Why Choose cPanel Hosting at VietHosting?

At VietHosting, our cPanel Hosting service is optimized for performance and security, featuring: CloudLinux OS, Imunify360 security, Enterprise SSD RAID-10 storage, and LiteSpeed Web Server, ensuring your website runs stably and at high speed.

DirectAdmin Hosting is a web hosting service that utilizes the DirectAdmin control panel. This control panel is known for its simple interface, fast performance, low resource consumption, and is considered an effective alternative to cPanel.

Key advantages of DirectAdmin:

  • Minimalist Interface: Focuses on core features, allowing users to operate quickly and without clutter.
  • High Performance: Consumes fewer system resources (RAM, CPU) compared to other control panels.
  • Stability: Highly regarded by the community for its stability and infrequent operational errors.
  • Cost-Effective: Licensing costs are typically lower than cPanel, which helps reduce the price of hosting services.

Why Choose DirectAdmin Hosting at VietHosting?

At VietHosting, DirectAdmin Hosting is equipped with Enterprise SSD RAID-10 drives, LiteSpeed Web Server for superior speed, CloudLinux OS for enhanced stability, and Imunify360 security, providing a powerful hosting solution at an optimal cost.

KVM VPS is a Virtual Private Server (VPS) that uses KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) virtualization technology. This is true hardware-level virtualization, integrated directly into the Linux kernel, allowing each VPS to operate as a completely independent physical server.

Key Advantages of KVM VPS:

  • 100% Dedicated Resources: Each KVM VPS is allocated a private amount of RAM, CPU, and disk space, which is not shared and is not affected by the performance of other VPSs on the same server.
  • Full Kernel Customization: Since each VPS has its own kernel, users have full control to customize and install kernel modules, providing maximum flexibility.
  • Broad OS Compatibility: KVM supports the installation of Linux, Windows, and other custom operating systems via an ISO file.
  • Higher Security: The complete isolation between VPSs enhances security, effectively preventing local attacks.

High-Performance KVM VPS at VietHosting:

VietHosting's KVM VPS service is built on a powerful hardware platform featuring Intel Xeon Platinum CPUs and Enterprise SSD RAID-10 storage, combined with the advantages of KVM technology to deliver a stable, secure, and powerful virtual server solution for any project.

Large VPS is a line of Virtual Private Server (VPS) products designed with exceptionally large resource configurations (CPU, RAM, disk space), comparable to a mid-range physical server. It is the ideal solution for websites and applications with high traffic or heavy processing demands that require power close to a dedicated server but at a more optimized cost.

When should you choose a Large VPS?

  • When standard KVM VPS packages no longer meet your resource needs.
  • When you require high performance for large systems like E-commerce, ERP, CRM, or game applications.
  • When you want the power of a dedicated server but with the more affordable price and flexible management of a VPS.

What makes Large VPS at VietHosting special?

At VietHosting, Large VPS still utilizes KVM technology, ensuring 100% dedicated resources. The service is built on the highest-grade hardware platform with Intel Xeon Platinum CPUs and Enterprise SSD RAID-10 storage, guaranteeing superior performance for any demanding task.

A Dedicated Server, also known as a Bare Metal Server, is a service where you exclusively lease an entire physical server. This means you have full access to 100% of the server's resources—including CPU, RAM, storage, and bandwidth—without sharing with any other users.

Key Characteristics of a Dedicated Server:

  • Maximum Performance: All hardware resources are dedicated to you, delivering the highest performance for demanding applications.
  • Superior Security: An isolated environment minimizes security risks from other users.
  • Full Administrative Access (Root Access): You have the highest level of access to the server, allowing you to install any operating system, software, and configure it to your exact needs.
  • Reliability and Stability: Not being affected by the activities of other users ensures stability for critical services.

When should you choose a Dedicated Server?

  • Websites with extremely high traffic or large-scale e-commerce systems.
  • Enterprise applications and databases that demand high processing performance.
  • Projects that require specific software or OS configurations not supported in a shared environment.

Colocation Service allows businesses and individuals to place their own servers in a professional data center facility. Instead of building and operating a costly server room, you rent space in a provider's data center.

By using a colocation service, you benefit from:

  • Professional Infrastructure: Your server operates in an environment with international standards for power, cooling, and fire suppression.
  • High-Speed Network Connectivity: Enjoy high-bandwidth, stable, and redundant internet connections.
  • Strict Physical Security: The data center is protected 24/7 with multiple security layers, surveillance cameras, and access control.
  • Cost Savings: Reduce infrastructure investment and operational costs compared to building your own facility.

In simple terms, you bring your server to our "home," and we ensure that "home" is always secure, cool, and has the best network connection. VietHosting offers initial setup support and associated server management services if needed.

Server Licenses grant the legal right to use specific software essential for managing, optimizing, or securing a server environment.

Unlike typical desktop software licenses, these are often required for operating systems (like CloudLinux), control panels (such as cPanel or DirectAdmin), web servers (like LiteSpeed), virtualization software, or security applications running on your VPS or Dedicated Server. Purchasing or renting these licenses ensures you receive updates, support, and operate legally within the software provider's terms.

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is a global security technology standard that encrypts the connection between a web server and a user's browser. An SSL Certificate is a data file installed on a server that acts as a digital "passport" to authenticate the website's identity and enable the HTTPS protocol (HTTP over SSL).

When a website has SSL (HTTPS), it ensures:

  • Data Encryption: All information exchanged between the user and the website (such as passwords, credit card details, personal data) is encrypted, preventing malicious actors from eavesdropping.
  • Data Integrity: Data cannot be altered or forged during transmission.
  • Authentication: SSL confirms that the user is connecting to the correct server for the website they intend to visit, not a fraudulent one.

Today, SSL is a mandatory requirement for all websites, not only for security but also as a crucial factor for Google SEO ranking and building customer trust.

VietHosting guarantees a full refund to customers within 7 days of service registration for eligible services (like Web Hosting, Reseller Hosting, KVM VPS, Large VPS) if they are dissatisfied with the service quality. Please refer to our Refund Policy for detailed terms and conditions.

Yes, customers are welcome to send an email or submit a support ticket, and we will assist in migrating your data from other providers to VietHosting as quickly as possible, ensuring data security and completely free of charge.

VietHosting partners