What is scp Linux command?

Securely transfer files between a local and remote host with the scp command in Linux. Encrypted data transmission for enhanced security.

scp Syntax:

scp [options] [source] [destination]

scp Options:

Option	Description
-r	Recursively copy entire directories
-P	Specify the port to connect to on the remote host
-p	Preserves the modification and access times, as well as the permissions of the source-file in the destination-file
-q	Do not display the progress meter
-C	Enable compression during the transfer
-i	Specify the identity file (private key) for public key authentication

Caution

Exercise caution when using the scp command as it can overwrite files without prompting, and incorrect usage may lead to data loss.

Parameters:

Parameter	Description
source	Specifies the file or directory to be copied
destination	Specifies the destination path for the file(s)

scp Command Usage Examples:

Copy a Local File to a Remote Server

scp /path/to/local/file.txt user@remotehost:/path/to/remote/directory

Copies a local file to a remote server using SCP.

Copy a Remote File to a Local Machine

scp user@remotehost:/path/to/remote/file.txt /path/to/local/directory

Retrieves a file from a remote server and copies it to a local directory.

Copy an Entire Directory to a Remote Server

scp -r /path/to/local/directory user@remotehost:/path/to/remote/directory

Recursively copies an entire directory from local to remote server.

Copy a Remote File with a Specific Port

scp -P port_number user@remotehost:/path/to/remote/file.txt /path/to/local/directory

Copies a file from a remote server using a specific port.

Copy Multiple Files from a Remote Server

scp user@remotehost:"/path/to/remote/file1.txt /path/to/remote/file2.txt" /path/to/local/directory

Copies multiple files from a remote server to a local directory.

Tip

When using the scp command in Linux, ensure that you have the necessary permissions to access the source and destination files or directories. Additionally, always double-check the file paths and hostnames to avoid any mistakes while transferring files. Lastly, consider using SSH keys for secure authentication instead of passwords.

How do I use scp in Linux?

To use the scp command in bash, execute the following command:

scp file.txt user@remotehost:/path/to/destination

How can I copy a directory with scp?

To copy a directory using scp, use the -r flag to recursively copy all files and directories within the specified directory. Here’s an example:

scp -r /path/to/directory user@remotehost:/path/to/destination

How do I specify a different port with scp?

To specify a different port with scp, use the -P flag followed by the port number. Here’s an example:

scp -P 2222 file.txt user@remotehost:/path/to/destination

How to transfer a file from a remote server to a local machine using scp?

To transfer a file from a remote server to a local machine with scp, switch the positions of the source and destination paths. Here’s an example:

scp user@remotehost:/path/to/file.txt /path/to/destination

How do I preserve file attributes like permissions and timestamps when using scp?

To preserve file attributes like permissions and timestamps during file transfer, use the -p flag with scp. Here’s an example:

scp -p file.txt user@remotehost:/path/to/destination

How to display the progress of a file transfer with scp?

To display the progress of a file transfer with scp, use the -v flag for verbose output. This will show the progress and additional information during the transfer. Here’s an example:

scp -v file.txt user@remotehost:/path/to/destination

How do I use a specific SSH private key with scp?

To use a specific SSH private key with scp, use the -i flag followed by the path to the private key file. Here’s an example:

scp -i /path/to/private_key file.txt user@remotehost:/path/to/destination

Applications of the scp command

• Securely copy files and directories between local and remote hosts
• Transfer files and data over a secure shell (SSH) connection
• Copy files between two remote hosts by specifying both the source and destination in the scp command
• Securely copy files with encryption to protect sensitive data during transfer
• Backup files and directories from a local system to a remote server
• Copy files from a remote server to a local system
• Transfer files using different authentication methods supported by SSH