[Dar-support] Fwd: Unexpected password prompt when isolating an encrypted archive

[<og...@gm...>]

I still have the problem, even with your suggestion to darrc and reading 
up on the Conditional Syntax.
If I specify -J on the isolation command line the problem disappears.
See small testcase below.

Merry Christmas and regards,

Ole G

*sh-5.2$ cat minimal-darrc**
***all:
   -an
   -R /fs/
   -K aes:secret

reference:
   -J aes:secret

*sh-5.2$ dar -N -B minimal-darrc -g f/test -c test**
***Error reading EA for /fs : Error retrieving EA list for /fs : No such 
file or directory
Error reading EA for /fs/f/System Volume Information : Error retrieving 
EA list for /fs/f/System Volume Information : Permission denied
Cannot read directory contents: /fs/f/System Volume Information : Error 
opening directory: /fs/f/System Volume Information : Permission denied
   --------------------------------------------
  36 inode(s) saved
    including 0 hard link(s) treated
  0 inode(s) changed at the moment of the backup and could not be saved 
properly
  0 byte(s) have been wasted in the archive to resave changing files
  0 inode(s) with only metadata changed
  0 inode(s) not saved (no inode/file change)
  0 inode(s) failed to be saved (filesystem error)
  22 inode(s) ignored (excluded by filters)
  0 inode(s) recorded as deleted from reference backup
  --------------------------------------------
  Total number of inode(s) considered: 58
  --------------------------------------------
  EA saved for 29 inode(s)
  FSA saved for 36 inode(s)
  --------------------------------------------

*# The above messages are normal for my backups**
**
**sh-5.2$ dar -N -B minimal-darrc -A test -C test-cat**
***Archive test requires a password: Received signal: Interrupt

*# I pressed ^C*

-------- Forwarded Message --------
Subject: 	Re: [Dar-support] Unexpected password prompt when isolating an 
encrypted archive
Date: 	Tue, 23 Dec 2025 08:36:56 +0100
From: 	og...@gm...
To: 	Denis Corbin via Dar-support <dar...@li...>



Thanks, Denis.

I see the point, especially the case where the catalog is being isolated 
could need 0, 1 or 2 passwords...

Regards, Ole G

On 22/12/2025 21.29, Denis Corbin via Dar-support wrote:
> I guess you make a confusion between -K and -J options
>
> -K is to be used for the object of the operation (the archive you 
> create, the isolated catalog you create, the archive you test, list, 
> extract data from...)
>
> -J option apply to the archive of reference (the one given to -A 
> option), here the archive you take as reference to isolate a catalog.
>
> the same way '-$' option (pay attention to the quote if given on shell 
> prompt), applies to the auxiliary archive of reference (see -@ option)
>
> note that -K is only mandatory if you want to cipher the archive (or 
> isolated catalog, which is just a particular type of archive) about to 
> be created.
>
> When reading an archive, if -K -J or '-$' is not specified and the 
> corresponding archive is ciphered, dar will issue a prompt for you 
> provide the password (this is what you got here without -J option).
>
> I would suggest setting the lennz-darrc file more or less that way:
>
> #-------
> all:
>   -K aes:secret
>
> reference:
>   -J aes:secret
> #-------
>
> I let you read the conditional syntax paragraph in dar man page for 
> more information on that syntax and if you want to do more funny things:
> http://dar.linux.free.fr/doc/man/dar.html#CONDITIONAL%20SYNTAX
>
> Cheers,
> Denis
>
>
> Le 22/12/2025 à 20:30, ogreg--- via Dar-support a écrit :
>> Isolating the catalog from an encrypted archive:
>>
>> /dar -zzstd -N -B lennz-darrc -R /proc/cygdrive -C /proc/cygdrive/F/ 
>> darback/lennz-1-C-0 -A /proc/cygdrive/F/darback/lennz-1-F-0/
>> Archive lennz-1-F-0 requires a password:
>>
>> lennz-darrc contains the line:
>> *-K aes:secret*
>>
>> The previous steps dar -c, dar -t, and dar -d run with a similar 
>> command line, but are able to used the needed information from 
>> lennz-darrc.
>>
>>
>>
>
>