+@smallexample
+GNU tar-@value{VERSION}-2
+@end smallexample
+
+ This line is followed by newline. Rest of file consists of
+records, separated by null (@acronym{ASCII} 0)
+characters. Thus, in contrast to the previous formats, format 2
+snapshot is a binary file.
+
+ First two records are decimal numbers, representing the
+time of the last backup. First number is the number of seconds, the
+second one is the number of nanoseconds, since the beginning of the
+epoch. These are followed by arbitrary number of directory records.
+
+ Each @dfn{directory record} contains a set of metadata describing a
+particular directory. Parts of a directory record are delimited with
+@acronym{ASCII} 0 characters. The following table describes each
+part. The @dfn{Number} type in this table stands for a decimal number
+in @acronym{ASCII} notation.