SCP Command with Examples

Securely Transfer Files

The scp command is used to securely copy files and directories between a local host and a remote host using the SSH (Secure Shell) protocol. It provides a secure way to transfer data over a network, similar to the cp command for local file copying. Here's the basic syntax and usage of the scp command:

scp [options] source destination
  • source: The file or directory you want to copy from the local host.
  • destination: The location on the remote host where you want to copy the file or directory.

Examples:

  1. Copy a local file to a remote server:
scp local-file.txt username@remote-server:/path/to/remote/directory/
  1. Copy a remote file to the local machine:
scp username@remote-server:/path/to/remote-file.txt /local/directory/
  1. Copy a directory and its contents recursively to a remote server:
scp -r local-directory/ username@remote-server:/path/to/remote/directory/
  1. Copy a file from a remote server to another remote server (through your local machine):
scp username@source-remote:/path/to/source-file.txt username@destination-remote:/path/to/destination-directory/

Common Options:

  • -r: Recursively copy directories and their contents.
  • -P port: Specify a custom SSH port (default is 22).
  • -i identity_file: Specify a private key file for authentication.
  • -C: Enable compression during data transfer.
  • -v: Verbose mode for detailed output (use -vv or -vvv for even more verbosity).

Note: The scp command requires SSH access to the remote host. Make sure you have the necessary permissions and credentials to access the remote server.

Example with Options:

scp -r -P 2222 -i ~/.ssh/private_key.pem local-dir/ username@remote-server:/path/to/remote/directory/

This command copies the local-dir directory and its contents to the remote server using port 2222 for SSH and the specified private key for authentication.

Remember to replace placeholders like local-file.txt, username, remote-server, etc., with actual values relevant to your scenario.