Linux Security Cookbook

6.3. Copying Files Remotely

Problem

You want to copy files securely from one computer to another.

Solution

For one file:

$ scp myfile remotehost:
$ scp remotehost:myfile .

For one file, renamed:

$ scp myfile remotehost:myfilecopy
$ scp remotehost:myfile myfilecopy

For multiple files:

$ scp myfile* remotehost:
$ scp remotehost:myfile\* .

To specify another directory:

$ scp myfile* remotehost:/name/of/directory
$ scp remotehost:/name/of/directory/myfile\* .

To specify an alternate username for authentication:

$ scp myfile smith@remotehost:
$ scp smith@remotehost:myfile .

To copy a directory recursively (-r):

$ scp -r mydir remotehost:
$ scp -r remotehost:mydir .

To preserve file attributes (-p):

$ scp -p myfile* remotehost:
$ scp -p remotehost:myfile .

Discussion

The scp command has syntax very similar to that of rcp or even cp:

scp name-of-source name-of-destination

A single file may be copied to a remote file or directory. In other words, if name-of-source is a file, name-of-destination may be a file (existing or not) or a directory (which must exist).

Multiple files and directories, however, may be copied only into a directory. So, if name-of-source is two or more files, one or more directories, or a combination, then specify name-of-destination as an existing directory into which the copy will take place.

Both name-of-source and name-of-destination may have the following form, in order:

1. The username of the account containing the file or directory, followed by “@". (Optional; permitted only ...