.TH E2PATCH 8 "@E2FSPROGS_MONTH@ @E2FSPROGS_YEAR@" "E2fsprogs version @E2FSPROGS_VERSION@"
.SH NAME
e2patch \- patch tool for safely applying libext2fs patch files to block devices
.SH SYNOPSIS
.B e2patch backup \fI<device>\fR \fI<patch_file>\fR \fI<backup_file>\fR
.br
.B e2patch apply \fI<device>\fR \fI<patch_file>\fR
.SH DESCRIPTION
.B e2patch
applies and restores "patches" produced by e2fsprogs with patch file option
(\fBresize2fs -T <patch_file>\fR) to block devices.
.PP
"Patch files" are sparse files containing overwritten device blocks and
a block bitmap.
.PP
"Patch files" are faster, safer and simpler to use than "undo files"
(\fBe2undo\fR and \fBresize2fs -z <undo_file>\fR), even though their original
design goal is similar.
.SH COMMANDS
.TP
.B e2patch backup \fI<device>\fR \fI<patch_file>\fR \fI<backup_file>\fR
Creates a backup in <backup_file> for restoring after bad patch <patch_file>.
Backup can then also be applied with \fBe2patch apply\fR
.TP
.B e2patch apply \fI<device>\fR \fI<patch_file>\fR
Apply <patch_file> to <device>.
.SH AUTHOR
Written by Vitaliy Filippov <vitalif@mail.ru>
.SH SEE ALSO
.BR resize2fs (8),
.BR e2undo (8).