1.  How can I use the tar command?
Solaris 2.8 Tar Help file
c Create archive file by writing files(s)/directories to a tarfile
r Append files to existing tarfile.
u Add named files if missing or modified since last archive to an existing tarfile
x Extract files(s)/directories from an existing tarfile
t List or "tell" contents of tarfile
v Display file named during create or extract
Location of tarfile
-f /tmp/tarfile Diskfile
-f /dev/rfd0c Floppy disk drive

len# ls -la
total 468
drwxr-xr-x   2 root     other        512 Mar 12 10:56 ./
drwxr-xr-x  32 root     root        1024 Mar 12 10:56 ../
-rw-r--r--   1 root     other        280 Mar 12 10:56 acct.cntl
-rw-r--r--   1 root     other      90120 Mar 12 10:56 acct.data
-rw-r--r--   1 root     other       1306 Mar 12 10:56 config_util.data
-rw-r--r--   1 root     other      53485 Mar 12 10:56 fileacct_main.ps
-rw-r--r--   1 root     other      53627 Mar 12 10:56 printacct_main.ps
-rw-r--r--   1 root     other      34688 Mar 12 10:56 send

len# tar cvf training.tar *
a acct.cntl 1K
a acct.data 89K
a config_util.data 2K
a fileacct_main.ps 53K
a printacct_main.ps 53K
a send 34K

len# ls -la
total 964
drwxr-xr-x   2 root     other        512 Mar 12 10:58 ./
drwxr-xr-x  32 root     root        1024 Mar 12 10:56 ../
-rw-r--r--   1 root     other        280 Mar 12 10:56 acct.cntl
-rw-r--r--   1 root     other      90120 Mar 12 10:56 acct.data
-rw-r--r--   1 root     other       1306 Mar 12 10:56 config_util.data
-rw-r--r--   1 root     other      53485 Mar 12 10:56 fileacct_main.ps
-rw-r--r--   1 root     other      53627 Mar 12 10:56 printacct_main.ps
-rw-r--r--   1 root     other      34688 Mar 12 10:56 send
-rw-r--r--   1 root     other     239104 Mar 12 10:58 training.tar

len# compress training.tar
len# ls -la
total 592
drwxr-xr-x   2 root     other        512 Mar 12 10:59 ./
drwxr-xr-x  32 root     root        1024 Mar 12 10:56 ../
-rw-r--r--   1 root     other        280 Mar 12 10:56 acct.cntl
-rw-r--r--   1 root     other      90120 Mar 12 10:56 acct.data
-rw-r--r--   1 root     other       1306 Mar 12 10:56 config_util.data
-rw-r--r--   1 root     other      53485 Mar 12 10:56 fileacct_main.ps
-rw-r--r--   1 root     other      53627 Mar 12 10:56 printacct_main.ps
-rw-r--r--   1 root     other      34688 Mar 12 10:56 send
-rw-r--r--   1 root     other      62763 Mar 12 10:58 training.tar.Z

len# md test2
len# mv training.tar.Z ./test2
len# cd test2
/Test/test2
len# ls
./               ../              training.tar.Z

len# uncompress *.Z
len# ls -la
total 500
drwxr-xr-x   2 root     other        512 Mar 12 11:01 ./
drwxr-xr-x   3 root     other        512 Mar 12 11:01 ../
-rw-r--r--   1 root     other     239104 Mar 12 10:58 training.tar

len# tar xvf training.tar
x acct.cntl, 280 bytes, 1 tape blocks
x acct.data, 90120 bytes, 177 tape blocks
x config_util.data, 1306 bytes, 3 tape blocks
x fileacct_main.ps, 53485 bytes, 105 tape blocks
x printacct_main.ps, 53627 bytes, 105 tape blocks
x send, 34688 bytes, 68 tape blocks

len# ls -la
total 964
drwxr-xr-x   2 root     other        512 Mar 12 11:02 ./
drwxr-xr-x   3 root     other        512 Mar 12 11:01 ../
-rw-r--r--   1 root     other        280 Mar 12 10:56 acct.cntl
-rw-r--r--   1 root     other      90120 Mar 12 10:56 acct.data
-rw-r--r--   1 root     other       1306 Mar 12 10:56 config_util.data
-rw-r--r--   1 root     other      53485 Mar 12 10:56 fileacct_main.ps
-rw-r--r--   1 root     other      53627 Mar 12 10:56 printacct_main.ps
-rw-r--r--   1 root     other      34688 Mar 12 10:56 send
-rw-r--r--   1 root     other     239104 Mar 12 10:58 training.tar 

tar from one dir to another saving permissions and structure easily.
tar cf - . |(cd /destination ;tar xfp -)
tar    command
cf    create file
-    STDOUT
.    current working dir
|    pipe stdout of first command into stdin of second command
( )    open and run command in a new shell
cd /dest guess
;    command delimiter
tar    guess
xfp    extract file w/protection information (permissions)
-    stdin 
 

2.  How can I use Gzip?
Mandrake Linux 7.2 Kernel 2.2.17 Gzip help file
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.

gzip -v netspot-v329-us-solaris.tar      (-N  Can be used to preserve the original file)
This will Gzip the netspot-v329-us-solaris.tar file replacing it with netspot-v329-us-solaris.tar.gz
 

3.  How can I use bzip2?
Mandrake Linux 7.2 Kernel 2.2.17 bzip2 help file
bzip2, a block-sorting file compressor.  Version 1.0.1, 23-June-2000.

   usage: bzip2 [flags and input files in any order]

   -h --help           print this message
   -d --decompress     force decompression
   -z --compress       force compression
   -k --keep           keep (don't delete) input files
   -f --force          overwrite existing output files
   -t --test           test compressed file integrity
   -c --stdout         output to standard out
   -q --quiet          suppress noncritical error messages
   -v --verbose        be verbose (a 2nd -v gives more)
   -L --license        display software version & license
   -V --version        display software version & license
   -s --small          use less memory (at most 2500k)
   -1 .. -9            set block size to 100k .. 900k

   If invoked as `bzip2', default action is to compress.
              as `bunzip2',  default action is to decompress.
              as `bzcat', default action is to decompress to stdout.

   If no file names are given, bzip2 compresses or decompresses
   from standard input to standard output.  You can combine
   short flags, so `-v -4' means the same as -v4 or -4v, &c.

4.  The Mandrake Rescue Disk Modprobe ne.o io=0xxx. Fails "No such device or address".."insmod ne failed at ...  I need help
I found this to be a pain with Mandrake 7.2, 8.0 and 8.2
I searched the net but found no solution
Here's a work around I found works
When you typed Modprobe ne.o ... The required module 8390.o was extracted and installed just fine.  Good
The ne.o module was also extracted to /tmp.  Good as well
The trick is to not use Modprobe but rather use insmod
If you type insmod you are bugged to use modprobe instead ...
Ok so we need to force it
Type    /sbin/insmod /tmp/ne.o io=0x300    (0x300 may be 0x320 0x340 ...)
That should do it

5.  I need help with the mkisofs command
I know what you mean.  Talk about switches.  Dont forget the final dot !!!!
mkisofs -o /tmp/final_iso_name.iso -R -V "Volume name or Label" -v -J -T -d -D -b original-image.img -c eltorito.boot -A "Application ID" .
Makes an ISO called final_iso_name.iso stored in the /tmp folder with a label "Volume name or Label" from original-image.img
If you run this command from a directory containing only the original-image.img, the final_iso_name.iso will contain original-image.img.
If you run this command from a directory containing the original-image.img and other files, the final_iso_name.iso will contain original-image.img and these other files !!
I hope that made sence
If you need more information, try the mkisofs man pages here

-m	Leave the environment unmodified. The invoked shell is your login shell, and no directory changes are made.

If you find an error or wish to comment please let me know