Hauler Store Save

Overview

hauler store save packages a content store into a single compressed archive (a haul, .tar.zst by default) that can be carried across the airgap.

This is the hand-off point between the two sides of the workflow: after you've collected everything with add/sync on the connected side, save produces one portable file to move onto physical media or through an approved transfer process. On the other side, hauler store load unpacks it back into a content store. Use --platform to keep only the architecture you need (smaller archive), --chunk-size to split the output for media with file-size limits, and --containerd when the haul will be imported directly into containerd rather than loaded by Hauler.

An example with available flags...

hauler store save --filename <file-name-with-extension>

Command Overview

Usage:
  hauler store save [flags]

Flags:
      --chunk-size string   (Optional) Split the output archive into chunks of the specified size (e.g. 1G, 500M, 2048M)
      --containerd          (Optional) Enable import compatibility with containerd... removes oci-layout from the haul
  -f, --filename string     (Optional) Specify the name of outputted haul (default "haul.tar.zst")
  -h, --help                help for save
  -p, --platform string     (Optional) Specify the platform for runtime imports... i.e. linux/amd64 (unspecified implies all)

Global Flags:
  -d, --haulerdir string   Set the location of the hauler directory (default $HOME/.hauler)
      --ignore-errors      Ignore/Bypass errors (i.e. warn on error) (defaults false)
  -l, --log-level string   Set the logging level (i.e. info, debug, warn) (default "info")
  -r, --retries int        Set the number of retries for operations (default 3)
  -s, --store string       Set the directory to use for the content store
  -t, --tempdir string     (Optional) Override the default temporary directory determined by the OS

Example for Containerd Import

Note: Available in Hauler v1.4.1+.

If you intend to import the saved tarball directly to containerd, use the containerd flag to ensure the bundled artifacts are compatible, regardless of store contents. This will ensure the oci-layout file is not included, which may cause unexpected interpretation of artifact types by containerd.

hauler store save --containerd --platform linux/amd64

Splitting the Archive into Chunks

For large stores, use --chunk-size to split the output archive into multiple smaller files. This is helpful when transferring across media with file-size limits. Sizes accept binary units such as K/KB, M/MB, G/GB, and T/TB, or a raw byte count.

# split the haul into 2 GB chunks
hauler store save --chunk-size 2G

The chunks are produced as <base>_*<ext> files (e.g. haul_0.tar.zst, haul_1.tar.zst). hauler store load automatically rejoins them when given the base filename.

Note: A chunked store must be reassembled with hauler store load before it can be imported into containerd. Chunked output cannot be combined directly with --containerd for a one-step import.