scp command on Linux (copy remote files) [Basic Guide]

The scp command in Linux copies files from/to remote computers using the SSH protocol in a secure manner.

The scp can be used to send or receive files depending on whether the source or destination is a remote copy path.

A remote path has the following syntax: user @endereço: /directory.

Examples:

To copy the local file /home/uira/file to the server.com using the credentials of the uira user:

$ scp /home/uira/file [email protected]: /mp

To copy the file /home/www/file from.com to the local /home/uira directory:

$ scp [email protected]: /home/www/archive /home/uira

You can also use the “. “to represent the local directory:

$ scp [email protected]: /home/www/archive. 

The use of jokers is also possible:

$ scp /home/uira/ *.js [email protected]: /var/www/html/js

It is important that the user used has permission to write to the destination directory.

The scp can be used with the following options:

• -C Compress files during transfer;
• -p Preserves file permissions and access and modification dates;
• -r Recursively copy subdirectories and files;

The scp can also be used to make copies directly between two remote machines:

$ scp -rcv user1 @maquina1: /user files2 @maquina2: /backup

Uirá Endy Ribeiro

Uirá Endy Ribeiro is a Software Developer and Cloud Computing Architect with a 23-year career. He has master's degrees in computer science and fifteen IT certifications and is the author of 11 books recognized in the IT world market. He is also Director at Universidade Salgado de Oliveira and Director of the Linux Professional Institute - LPI Director's Board.