What is the SAR file format?
.sar (SAR compressed file archive, SAPCAR archive) is an archive file used by SAP SE to deliver compressed software packages - kernel updates, support patches, and installation media - through the SAP Support Portal. SARs are sometimes referred to as support packages or service archives. .sar files can be extracted on Windows and Linux using SAPCAR, SAP's proprietary command-line tool provided free of charge to SAP customers.
The .sar format stores data in a binary container with LZH/LZC-derived compression. Archives begin with an ASCII signature such as CAR 2.00 or CAR 6.0 at byte offset 0, which identifies the format version written by SAPCAR. Directory paths and file permissions are preserved per entry inside the archive - essential when deploying SAP kernel components across server systems.
Unlike general-purpose formats such as ZIP, .sar files are not supported by Windows Explorer or common third-party archive managers. Only SAP's own SAPCAR command-line tool can reliably create and extract them. Newer archives produced by SAPCAR 7.x use the internal CAR 6.x container and may not open in older SAPCAR builds; SAP recommends always using the latest available version.
.sar archives are used across all SAP-supported platforms - Windows, Linux, AIX, HP-UX, and Solaris - and range in size from a few megabytes for a small kernel patch to several gigabytes for full installation media. Related SAP archive types include .SCA and .SDA.
Security & safety
RISK: MEDIUMThe .sar archives themselves are SAP software-delivery containers and are safe when obtained from the official SAP Support Portal, which provides signed, verified downloads. The real risks are sourcing and tooling: never extract SAP .sar files from unofficial mirrors (license and integrity concerns), use the official SAPCAR binary rather than random "SAR opener" downloads that may be adware, and keep SAPCAR current so legitimate archives extract correctly.
Format details
in a nutshellPrograms that open SAR files
Windows1 app
SAPCAR (SAP)
Free Download the SAPCAR.exe matching/newer than the archive; run: SAPCAR -xvf file.sar (or -tvf to list contents). 
Linux1 app
Technical details
deep spec| Developer | SAP SE (formerly SAP AG) |
| Magic bytes | `CAR 2.00` (ASCII) at offset 0; newer SAPCAR versions write a `CAR 6.0` or `SAPCAR`-style header |
| Compression algorithm | LZH/LZC-derived, applied per entry inside the SAPCAR container |
| Byte order | Little-endian binary |
| Internal format versions | CAR 2.0 (legacy) and CAR 6.x (current); newer archives may not open in older SAPCAR builds |
| Supported platforms | Windows, Linux, AIX, HP-UX, Solaris (all SAP-supported operating systems) |
| Typical archive size | Few MB (small kernel patches) to several GB (full installation media) |
| Required extraction tool | `SAPCAR` command-line utility, available free to SAP customers via the SAP Support Portal |
| MIME type | `application/octet-stream` (unofficial: `application/vnd.sar`) |
| Path and permission preservation | Yes - stores directory structure and per-file permissions inside each archive entry |
| Encryption | None inside the archive itself; download authenticity relies on separate SAP portal signatures |
| Related SAP archive extensions | `.car` (CAR predecessor archives), `.sca` (SCA packages), `.sda` (SDA archives) |
| Integrity verification | Per-entry checksums embedded in the SAPCAR container; separate download checksums on SAP Support Portal |
| Primary use | Delivery of SAP kernel updates, support packages, and installation software via the SAP Support Portal |
| Released | 1990s, as SAP's distribution archive format (CAR, later SAPCAR) |
| Latest version | SAPCAR 7.x (CAR 6.x archive format) |
| Specification | help.sap.com |
SAR conversions
Community Q&A
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