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Certain old versions of tar cannot handle additional information recorded by newer tar programs. To create an archive in V7 format (not ANSI), which can be read by these old versions, specify the --format=v7 option in conjunction with the --create (-c) (tar also accepts --portability or --old-archive for this option). When you specify it, tar leaves out information about directories, pipes, fifos, contiguous files, and device files, and specifies file ownership by group and user IDs instead of group and user names.
When updating an archive, do not use --format=v7 unless the archive was created using this option.
In most cases, a new format archive can be read by an old tar program without serious trouble, so this option should seldom be needed. On the other hand, most modern tars are able to read old format archives, so it might be safer for you to always use --format=v7 for your distributions. Notice, however, that ‘ustar’ format is a better alternative, as it is free from many of ‘v7’'s drawbacks.