[rdiff-backup-users] Restoring to an archive, i.e. making a snapshot

[David Sickmiller]

Hi,

I'm using rdiff-backup to run a nightly backup across the Internet from 
a production server to a backup server.  I'd like to be able to produce 
monthly snapshots and save them on removable media.  It'd really be 
great if I could make these snapshots on the backup server, generate 
them from past revisions, and keep all the meta data.

I think I can generate an archive of the current mirror just by making a 
tar file of it, although I'm not sure if that preserves the meta data.  
I know it's possible to restore an old revision from rdiff-backup to a 
regular filesystem, but I don't believe one can "restore" into a file.  
(It's possible to use FUSE to mount a tar file, but the file ownership 
and permissions don't work.)  I've been searching online but haven't 
found much to fit this need.  I find this a bit surprising... am I 
mistaken to think I want this functionality?

David