Introduction to SCP
SCP (Secure Copy) is a command-line utility that allows users to securely copy files and folders between remote and local machines. It is based on the Secure Shell (SSH) protocol, which provides a secure way to access and manage remote servers.
Basic Syntax of SCP
The basic syntax of the SCP command is as follows:
scp [options] source_file destination_file
Where source_file is the file or folder you want to copy, and destination_file is the location where you want to copy it to.
Copying Files and Folders
To copy a file from a remote server to your local machine, use the following command:
scp username@hostname:/path/to/remote/file /path/to/local/directory
Replace username with your actual username, hostname with the hostname or IP address of the remote server, and /path/to/remote/file with the path to the file you want to copy.
To copy a folder from a remote server to your local machine, use the following command:
scp -r username@hostname:/path/to/remote/folder /path/to/local/directory
The -r option tells SCP to recursively copy all files and subfolders in the specified directory.
Custom Port and Compression
If you need to use a custom port, you can specify it using the -P option:
scp -r -P 2222 username@hostname:/path/to/remote/folder /path/to/local/directory
Replace 2222 with your actual custom port number.
To compress files before copying them, you can use the tar command to create a compressed archive:
tar czfP backup.tar.gz /path/to/catalog
scp user@hostname:/path/to/backup.tar.gz .
tar -xzvf backup.tar.gz
This will compress the catalog on the remote server, copy the compressed file to your local machine, and then extract the files.
Tips and Best Practices
- Always use full paths when specifying source and destination files.
- Use the
-roption to recursively copy all files and subfolders in a directory. - Consider using compression to reduce the size of large files and folders.
- Make sure to allow incoming and outgoing connections on custom ports in your firewall settings.
Conclusion
SCP is a powerful tool for securely copying files and folders between remote and local machines. By following the basic syntax and options outlined in this tutorial, you can easily transfer files and manage your remote servers.