.gz.gz is the extension for archives created by the GNU compression utility, gzip.
Gzip is a widely used compression utility written to replace the standard UNIX compress utility. Gzip uses the Lempel-Ziv LZ77 substitutional compression method common to many compression utilities such as PKZip.
Gzip is preferred by most over the UNIX compress. Compress is copyrighted under a patent while gzip is copyleft. Also gzip is usually better at compressing than compress.
Gzip can uncompress files that were created with the UNIX compress, which usually have the extension .Z or .z. Compress' decompression algorithm is not patented, only the compression method.
Gzip is available from any GNU archive site in shar, tar and gzipped tar formats. Gzip functions on most UNIX, MS-DOS, OS/2 and VMS systems
A .gz file can be uncompressed by one of these commands
Note: foobar is a common variable used in place of a specific filename.
At a UNIX prompt, typing "gzip -h" will display the command list
gzip 1.2.4 (18 Aug 93) usage: gzip [-cdfhlLnNrtvV19] [-S suffix] [file ...] -c --stdout write on standard output, keep original files unchanged -d --decompress decompress -f --force force overwrite of output file and compress links -h --help give this help -l --list list compressed file contents -L --license display software license -n --no-name do not save or restore the original name and time stamp -N --name save or restore the original name and time stamp -q --quiet suppress all warnings -r --recursive operate recursively on directories -S .suf --suffix .suf use suffix .suf on compressed files -t --test test compressed file integrity -v --verbose verbose mode -V --version display version number -1 --fast compress faster -9 --best compress better file... files to (de)compress. If none given, use standard input.
or you can read the manual for gzip by typing "man gzip" at a UNIX prompt.
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