If you’re a Linux user and need to compress and archive files, 7z is an excellent option. It’s a popular compression format that offers high compression ratios, making it a great choice for archiving large files. In this article, we’ll take a look at how to create a 7z file archive in Linux.
Installing p7zip
Before we can create a 7z file archive, we need to install p7zip. p7zip is a command-line version of 7-Zip for Linux and other Unix-like operating systems. It’s free, open-source, and offers support for a wide range of archive formats.
To install p7zip on Ubuntu or Debian-based systems, run the following command:
sudo apt-get install p7zip-fullOn Fedora or other Red Hat-based systems, use the following command instead:
sudo dnf install p7zipCreating a 7z File Archive
Once p7zip is installed, creating a 7z file archive is a straightforward process. Simply navigate to the directory where your files are stored and run the following command:
7z a archive.7z file1 file2 file3In this command, a specifies that we want to add files to an archive. archive.7z is the name we want to give to the archive, and file1, file2, and file3 are the names of the files we want to include in the archive. You can include as many files as you’d like, separated by spaces.
If you want to include all files in the current directory in the archive, you can use a wildcard:
7z a archive.7z *This will include all files in the current directory in the archive.
Compressing Files with 7z
By default, 7z will use the LZMA compression method, which offers excellent compression ratios but can be slow. If you want to use a different compression method, you can specify it with the -m option.
For example, to use the LZMA2 compression method, which is faster than LZMA but offers slightly lower compression ratios, you can use the following command:
7z a -m=lzma2 archive.7z file1 file2 file3If you want to use the fastest compression method available, you can use the -m0 option:
7z a -m0=ppmd archive.7z file1 file2 file3This will use the PPMd compression method, which is the fastest but offers lower compression ratios than other methods.
You can also specify the compression level with the -mx option. The higher the value of x, the better the compression but the slower the process. For example, to use the maximum compression level, you can use the following command:
7z a -mx=9 archive.7z file1 file2 file3Encrypting a 7z File Archive
If you need to encrypt your archive, 7z offers built-in support for AES-256 encryption. To encrypt your archive, use the -p option followed by a password:
7z a -psecret archive.7z file1 file2 file3This will encrypt the archive with the password secret. When you or someone else tries to extract the archive, they will be prompted to enter the password.
Conclusion
Creating a 7z file archive in Linux is simple, thanks to the p7zip command-line tool. Following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily create compressed archives of your files that take up less disk space and are easier to share or store. The 7z format is a great option for archiving large files, as it offers excellent compression ratios and support for encryption.
Whether you’re a Linux beginner or a seasoned user, mastering the art of file compression and archiving is essential. With p7zip and the 7z format, you can create and manage archives quickly and efficiently, saving disk space and making sharing files more accessible.
So, next time you need to archive files in Linux, consider using 7z and p7zip to create a compressed archive that is easy to store and share. With some practice, you’ll be able to create archives quickly and confidently, knowing that your files are compressed and protected.
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