[Linux](EN) Copy file or directory to local or remote using rsync
Update(2021.02.27): Add contents of copying remote file or directory to local
Let’s use rsync command in Linux base OS.
Environment and Prerequisite
- Linux
- Bash shell(/bin/bash)
rsync command
Basic
rsync: It represents remote sync. It is a fast, versatile, remote (and local) file-copying tool which can use with various options.- It is similar file-copying tool like
rcpandscp. It can copy file or directory to not only remote but also local. Also, remote file or directory can be copied to local. - There are so many options that can be combined to many functions.(preserve symlink, preserve permission, preserve timestamp etc)
Basic Usage
- Contents from manual page
rsync [options ...] [source] [target]
Option
-v: Increase verbosity. It give more information about copying process.-z: Compress files when copying.-h: Print human-readable mode.-a (same as -rlptgoD): Archive mode. It is same as-rlptgoDoptions. Those options explanation are at below of this option. It copies symlink, permission, timestamp and etc properties.-r: Recurse into directories. Use it for directory copy.-l: Copy symlinks as symlinks.-p: Preserve permissions.-t: Preserve modification times.-g: Preserve group.-o: Preserve owner(super-user only).-e: Specify the remote shell to use.-D (same as --devices --specials): Same as--devices --specials.--devices: This option causes rsync to transfer character and block device files to the remote system to recreate these devices.(root only).--specials: This option causes rsync to transfer special files such as named sockets and fifo.-P (same as --partial --progress): Same as--partial --progress.--partial: By default, rsync will delete any partially transferred file if the transfer is interrupted. This option tells rsync to keep the partial file which should make a subsequent transfer of the rest of the file much faster.--progress: Showing the progress of the transfer.
Examples
- Copy file to local
# rsync [File Name] [Target Path]
rsync -avzhP test.txt /tmp
# Name can be changed during transfer
rsync -avzhP test.txt /tmp/test-renamed.txt
- Copy directory to local
# rsync [Directory Name] [Target Path]
# Directory itself is copied.
rsync -avzhP test-directory /tmp
# Copy all files and subdirectories in directory
# rsync [Directory Name]/ [Target Path]
rsync -avzhP test-directory/ /tmp
- Copy file to remote
# rsync [File Name] [User]@[IP Address]:[Path]
rsync -avzhP test.txt twpower-private-server:~
rsync -avzhP test.txt twpower@192.168.1.2:~
# Name can be changed during transfer
rsync -avzhP test.txt twpower-private-server:~/test-renamed.txt
rsync -avzhP test.txt twpower@192.168.1.2:~/test-renamed.txt
- Copy directory to remote
# rsync [Directory Name] [User]@[IP Address]:[Path]
# Directory itself is copied.
rsync -avzhP test-directory twpower-private-server:~
rsync -avzhP test-directory twpower@192.168.1.2:~
# Copy all files and subdirectories in directory
# rsync [Directory Name]/ [User]@[IP Address]:[Path]
rsync -avzhP test-directory/ twpower-private-server:~
rsync -avzhP test-directory/ twpower@192.168.1.2:~
- Copy file from remote to local
# rsync [User]@[IP Address]:[File Name] [Path]
rsync -avzhP twpower-private-server:~/test.txt .
rsync -avzhP twpower@192.168.1.2:~/test.txt .
# Name can be changed during transfer
rsync -avzhP twpower-private-server:~/test.txt ./test-renamed.txt
rsync -avzhP twpower@192.168.1.2:~test.txt ./test-renamed.txt
- Copy directory from remote to local
# rsync [User]@[IP Address]:[Directory Name] [Path]
# Directory itself is copied.
rsync -avzhP twpower-private-server:~/test-directory .
rsync -avzhP twpower@192.168.1.2:~/test-directory .
# Copy all files and subdirectories in directory
# rsync [User]@[IP Address]:[Directory Name]/ [Path]
rsync -avzhP twpower-private-server:~/test-directory/ .
rsync -avzhP twpower@192.168.1.2:~/test-directory/ .