Note: The following documentation is for tar version 1.13. You may want to check your version's manpage if you have difficulty.
--create - create a new archive.
--file filename/devicename - use a file (ex: backup.tar) or device (ex: /dev/st0) for archive functions.
--preserve - combination of --preserve-permissions and --preserve-order.
--tape-length n - change tapes after n*1024 bytes.
--totals - displays total bytes written into an archive.
--verbose - list all processed archive files during operation.
--version - print tar version number.