SCP – Copying Files Between Servers – Assistance, Tips, and Examples

Certainly! SCP (Secure Copy Protocol) is a command-line tool used to securely copy files between servers over SSH. Here’s a guide with help, tips, and examples for using SCP:

Basic SCP Syntax:

• Copy a file from local to remote:
  scp local_file.txt username@remote_server:/path/to/destination/

• Copy a file from remote to local:
  scp username@remote_server:/path/to/remote_file.txt /local/destination/

SCP with Specific Port:

• Specify a port other than the default (22):
  scp -P 2222 local_file.txt username@remote_server:/path/to/destination/

SCP Tips:

1. Copy Entire Directories:
   • Use the -r flag to recursively copy directories:
     scp -r local_directory/ username@remote_server:/path/to/destination/

2. Verbose Mode:
   • Use the -v flag for verbose output to see details of the transfer:
     scp -v local_file.txt username@remote_server:/path/to/destination/

3. Preserve File Attributes:
   • Preserve timestamps and permissions with the -p flag:
     scp -p local_file.txt username@remote_server:/path/to/destination/

4. Quiet Mode:
   • Suppress progress meter and non-error messages with the -q flag:
     scp -q local_file.txt username@remote_server:/path/to/destination/

Examples:

• Copy a file from local to remote with a specific port:
  scp -P 2222 local_file.txt username@remote_server:/path/to/destination/

• Copy a directory from local to remote:
  scp -r local_directory/ username@remote_server:/path/to/destination/

• Copy a file from remote to local with verbose output:
  scp -v username@remote_server:/path/to/remote_file.txt /local/destination/

• Copy a file preserving timestamps and permissions:
  scp -p local_file.txt username@remote_server:/path/to/destination/

Using SSH Key for Authentication:

• Specify the private key file with -i:
  scp -i /path/to/private_key.pem local_file.txt username@remote_server:/path/to/destination/

Interactive Mode:

• Use interactive mode for multiple files:
  scp -r username@remote_server:/path/to/remote_directory/* /local/destination/

Copying Between Remote Servers:

• Copy from one remote server to another:
  scp username@remote_server1:/path/to/remote_file.txt username@remote_server2:/path/to/destination/

These examples cover some common use cases of SCP. Remember to replace placeholders like local_file.txt, remote_server, etc., with your actual file names and server details. Always ensure that you have the necessary permissions and connectivity for the file transfer.