Remote File Copy from the Linux Command Prompt

1. SCP - Secure Copy Protocol

This utility is handy for transferring files from one Linux system directly to another using ssh security with authentication. Unline rcp, scp will ask for passwords or passphrases if they are needed for authentication.

Upload (syntax):

 scp </local/file(s)/to/transfer> <login-name>@<hostname>:</remote/dir/to/transfer/to>

Upload (example):

 scp index.html username@www.companyname.com:/usr/httpd/virtual/www.companyname.com/html

Download (syntax):

 scp <your-login>@<hostname>:</path/to/remote/file> </local/directory>

Download (example):

 scp -r username@www.companyname.com:/usr/httpd/virtual/www.companyname.com/html  /mylocalpc/mywebsitedirectory

Useful options:

 -p preserve timestamp and info       -B batch mode
 -r recursive copy                    -C compression
 -v verbose mode                      

2. RZSZ - XMODEM, YMODEM, ZMODEM file transfer

This utility is handy for transferring files from a Microsoft Windows system to or from a Linux system over tcp/ip. It is also useful to transfer files to or from Linux systems using a serial cable and minicom. The RZSZ package includes (sx, sb, sz, rx, rb, rz) commands.

Upload (syntax):

Upload (example):

Download (syntax):

Download (example):

3. ZSSH - File transfer using Secure Shell and RZSZ

zssh (Zmodem SSH) is a program for interactively transferring files to and from a remote machine while using ssh. It is intended to be a convenient alternative to scp, allowing the transfer of files without having to open another session and re-authenticate. zssh is an interactive wrapper for ssh used to switch the ssh connection between the remote shell and file transfers. Files are transferred through zmodem protocol, using the rz and sz commands.

Upload (syntax):

Upload (example):

Download (syntax):

Download (example):

4. RCP - remote file copy

This utility is handy for transferring files from one Linux system directly to another using remote shell. It does not prompt for passwords, and it performs remote execution through rsh requiring the same authentication.

Upload (syntax):

Upload (example):

Download (syntax):

Download (example):