SCP (secure copy) is a command-line utility that means that you can securely copy information and directories between two areas.

With scp, you possibly can copy a file or listing:

• Out of your native system to a distant system.
• From a distant system to your native system.
• Between two distant techniques out of your native system.

When transferring knowledge with scp, each the information and password are encrypted in order that anybody snooping on the site visitors doesn’t get something delicate.

On this tutorial, we’ll present you find out how to use the scp command by means of sensible examples and detailed explanations of the most typical scp choices.

SCP Command Syntax

Earlier than going into find out how to use the scp command, let’s begin by reviewing the fundamental syntax.

The scp command syntax take the next kind:

scp [OPTION] [person@]SRC_HOST:]file1 [person@]DEST_HOST:]file2

• OPTION – scp options akin to cipher, ssh configuration, ssh port, restrict, recursive copy …and so on.
• [user@]SRC_HOST:]file1 – Supply file.
• [user@]DEST_HOST:]file2 – Vacation spot file

Native information must be specified utilizing an absolute or relative path, whereas distant file names ought to embody a person and host specification.

scp offers plenty of choices that management each side of its conduct. Essentially the most broadly used choices are:

• -P – Specifies the distant host ssh port.
• -p – Preserves information modification and entry instances.
• -q – Use this selection if you wish to suppress the progress meter and non-error messages.
• -C – This selection forces scp to compresses the info as it’s despatched to the vacation spot machine.
• -r – This selection tells scp to repeat directories recursively.

Earlier than you Start

The scp command depends on ssh for knowledge switch, so it requires an ssh key or password to authenticate on the distant techniques.

The colon (:) is how scp distinguish between native and distant areas.

To have the ability to copy information, you should have at the least learn permissions on the supply file and write permission on the goal system.

Watch out when copying information that share the identical identify and site on each techniques, scp will overwrite information with out warning.

When transferring giant information, it is suggested to run the scp command inside a display screen or tmux session.

Copy Recordsdata and Directories Between Two Programs with scp

Copy a Native File to a Distant System with the scp Command

To repeat a file from an area to a distant system run the next command:

$ scp file.txt remote_username@10.10.0.2:/distant/listing

The place file.txt is the identify of the file we wish to copy, remote_username is the person on the distant server, 10.10.0.2 is the server IP tackle. The /distant/listing is the trail to the listing you wish to copy the file to. In the event you don’t specify a distant listing, the file might be copied to the distant person dwelling listing.

You may be prompted to enter the person password, and the switch course of will begin.

Output:
remote_username@10.10.0.2's password:
file.txt                             100%    0     0.0KB/s   00:00

Omitting the filename from the vacation spot location copies the file with the unique identify. If you wish to save the file beneath a unique identify, it’s worthwhile to specify the brand new file identify:

$ scp file.txt remote_username@10.10.0.2:/distant/listing/newfilename.txt

If SSH on the distant host is listening on a port apart from the default 22 then you possibly can specify the port utilizing the -P argument:

$ scp -P 2322 file.txt remote_username@10.10.0.2:/distant/listing

The command to repeat a listing is very similar to as when copying information. The one distinction is that it’s worthwhile to use the -r flag for recursive.

To repeat a listing from an area to distant system, use the -r choice:

$ scp -r /native/listing remote_username@10.10.0.2:/distant/listing

Copy a Distant File to a Native System utilizing the scp Command

To repeat a file from a distant to an area system, use the distant location as a supply and native location because the vacation spot.

For instance to repeat a file named file.txt from a distant server with IP 10.10.0.2 run the next command:

$ scp remote_username@10.10.0.2:/distant/file.txt /native/listing

In the event you haven’t set a passwordless SSH login to the distant machine, you can be requested to enter the person password.

Copy a File Between Two Distant Programs utilizing the scp Command

In contrast to rsync , when utilizing scp you don’t need to log in to one of many servers to switch information from one to a different distant machine.

The next command will copy the file /information/file.txt from the distant host host1.com to the listing /information on the distant host host2.com.

$ scp user1@host1.com:/information/file.txt user2@host2.com:/information

You may be prompted to enter the passwords for each distant accounts. The information might be switch immediately from one distant host to the opposite.

To route the site visitors by means of the machine on which the command is issued, use the -3 choice:

$ scp -3 user1@host1.com:/information/file.txt user2@host2.com:/information

Conclusion

On this tutorial, you realized find out how to use the scp command to repeat information and directories.

You may additionally wish to arrange an SSH key-based authentication and hook up with your Linux servers with out coming into a password.

If you’re frequently connecting to the identical techniques, you possibly can simplify your workflow by defining your entire connections within the SSH config file .