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rcp command in MacOS

The rcp command in MacOS allows users to remotely copy files between systems. It is useful for transferring files securely and efficiently over a network. This command is similar to the cp command but is specifically designed for copying files between different machines. By using rcp, users can easily transfer files between their local system and a remote system without the need for manual intervention.

rcp Syntax:

Terminal window
rcp [options] source_file destination_file

MacOS rcp Options:

OptionDescription
-pPreserve file modification time and access control lists
-rRecursively copy directories

rcp Parameters:

ParameterDescription
source_fileSpecifies the source file to copy
destination_fileSpecifies the destination file to copy to

How to use rcp command:

Copy a File from Local to Remote Host

Terminal window
rcp localfile.txt remoteuser@remotehost:/remote/directory/

Copy a file named “localfile.txt” from the local host to the remote host in the specified directory.

Copy a File from Remote to Local Host

Terminal window
rcp remoteuser@remotehost:/remote/file.txt /local/directory/

Copy a file named “file.txt” from the remote host to the local host in the specified local directory.

Copy Multiple Files to Remote Host

Terminal window
rcp file1.txt file2.txt file3.txt remoteuser@remotehost:/remote/directory/

Copy multiple files (file1.txt, file2.txt, file3.txt) from the local host to the remote host in the specified directory.

Copy a Directory to Remote Host

Terminal window
rcp -r local_directory remoteuser@remotehost:/remote/directory/

Copy a directory named “local_directory” from the local host to the remote host in the specified remote directory.

Specify Port for Transfer

Terminal window
rcp -P port localfile.txt remoteuser@remotehost:/remote/directory/

Specify a custom port for the transfer of the file “localfile.txt” to the remote host in the specified directory.

Display Verbose Output

Terminal window
rcp -v localfile.txt remoteuser@remotehost:/remote/directory/

Display verbose output during the file transfer process from the local host to the remote host.

Suppress Display of Progress Bar

Terminal window
rcp -q localfile.txt remoteuser@remotehost:/remote/directory/

Suppress the display of the progress bar during the file transfer from the local host to the remote host.

Preserve File Modification Times

Terminal window
rcp -p localfile.txt remoteuser@remotehost:/remote/directory/

Preserve the modification times of the file “localfile.txt” during the transfer to the remote host.

How do I use rcp in MacOS?

To use the rcp command in MacOS, execute the following command:

Terminal window
rcp source_file destination_file

What is the syntax for using rcp in bash?

The syntax for using rcp in bash is:

Terminal window
rcp source_file destination_file

How can I copy a directory with rcp in MacOS?

To copy a directory using rcp in MacOS, you need to specify the directory path as the source and destination. Here is an example:

Terminal window
rcp -r source_directory destination_directory

Can I use rcp to transfer files between remote hosts in MacOS?

Yes, you can use rcp to transfer files between remote hosts in MacOS. Here is an example command:

Terminal window
rcp user1@remote_host1:source_file user2@remote_host2:destination_file

How do I preserve file permissions when using rcp in MacOS?

To preserve file permissions when using rcp in MacOS, you can use the -p option. Here is an example:

Terminal window
rcp -p source_file destination_file

Is it possible to see the progress of file transfer with rcp in MacOS?

To see the progress of a file transfer with rcp in MacOS, you can use the -v (verbose) option. Here is an example:

Terminal window
rcp -v source_file destination_file

How do I recursively copy files and directories with rcp in MacOS?

To recursively copy files and directories using rcp in MacOS, you can use the -r option. Here is an example:

Terminal window
rcp -r source_directory destination_directory

Can I use rcp with IPv6 addresses in MacOS?

Yes, you can use rcp with IPv6 addresses in MacOS. Here is an example command:

Terminal window
rcp user@[2001:db8:85a3:8d3:1319:8a2e:370:7348]:source_file destination_file

Applications of the rcp command

  • Transferring files between a local and a remote system
  • Synchronizing files between different servers
  • Backing up data to a remote server