How to Efficiently Transfer Files in Linux

Transferring files in Linux systems is a common task that every system administrator should master, especially when it comes to network transmission between local or remote systems.

Linux provides two commonly used tools to accomplish this task: SCP (Secure Replication) and Rsync. Both provide a safe and convenient way to transfer files between local or remote machines.

This article will explain in detail how to use SCP and Rsync commands to transfer files, including local and remote file transfers.

1. Understand scp (Secure Copy Protocol) in Linux

The scp command is a command line program that securely copies files and directories between two hosts via SSH (Secure Shell), meaning that when files are transferred over the Internet, data is transferred encrypted.

The basic common syntax for using scp is as follows:

 <code>scp [选项] 源文件目标</code>

Here is an explanation of the command:

• Source File : The file or directory you want to copy.
• Target : The location where you want to copy the file or directory.

Copy files locally in Linux

If you want to copy files from one directory to another on the same machine, you can use:

 <code>scp ~/document.txt /tmp</code>

Copy files to remote server

To copy files from the local machine to the remote server, you need to mention the IP address and destination path of the remote server.

 <code>scp ~/document.txt [email protected]:/home/username</code>

Copy files from remote server

To copy files from a remote server to a local machine, simply reverse the source and destination:

 <code>scp [email protected]:/home/username/document.txt /tmp</code>

To copy the entire directory, use the -r option (recursive):

 <code>scp -r ~/tecmint /tmp</code>

2. Understand rsync in Linux

The rsync command is another widely used command line tool for transferring files and directories between sources and destinations, often used to synchronize directories.

The basic syntax for using rsync is:

 <code>rsync [选项] 源目标</code>

Local file transfer

To transfer files or directories locally, you can use rsync and enable the -a option in archive mode, which retains permissions, ownership, and timestamps. The -v option represents the detailed mode and displays the progress of file transfer.

 <code>rsync -av ~/myfolder /backup</code>

Transfer files to remote server

To transfer files to a remote server, rsync uses SSH by default, here you need to specify the IP address and location of the remote server:

 <code>rsync -av ~/myfolder [email protected]:/home/username</code>

The above command transfers myfolder to the remote server, and if you run it again, rsync will copy only the changed files.

Transfer files from remote server

To transfer files from a remote server to a local machine, use:

 <code>rsync -av [email protected]:/home/username/myfolder /backup</code>

Sync directory using Rsync

A key advantage of rsync is its ability to sync directories, which means you can keep two directories synchronized, whether they are on the same machine or on different machines.

For example, to synchronize a local directory with a remote directory:

 <code>rsync -av /local/directory/ username@remote_host:/remote/directory/</code>

To synchronize the remote directory with the local directory, you need to reverse the source and destination in the rsync command.

 <code>rsync -av username@remote_host:/remote/directory/ /local/directory/</code>

If the transmission is interrupted due to a network failure or other reasons, you can restore the transmission using the --partial option, which allows the file transfer to continue from the interrupt:

 <code>rsync -av --partial /path/to/source username@remote_host:/path/to/destination</code>

in conclusion

Transferring files in Linux is very simple and intuitive to use tools such as scp and rsync . While scp is simple and secure, rsync offers more advanced features like synchronization and efficiency.

Learning how to use these tools effectively will help you manage files and data between local and remote systems.

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