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 uira@servidor.com: /mp

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

$ scp uira@servidor.com: /home/www/archive /home/uira

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

$ scp uira@servidor.com: /home/www/archive. 

The use of jokers is also possible:

$ scp /home/uira/ *.js uira@servidor.com: /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