rsync

About

rsync is a Linux command-line application for synchronizing (i.e. making sure both copies have the latest versions of all files) a directory tree between two machines.

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Related Pages

• backup software
• rclone: rsync-like application that works with many more protocols including low-priced cloud storage

user pages

• user:Woozle/rsync: full command, showing actual options we use, including machine names

Examples

Copy a directory structure from relsource on machine to reldest on the local machine:

rsync -Pav user@machine:relsource reldest

• a is for 'archive', which is short for pr which are 'preserve' and 'recursive'
  • p ('preserve') preserves timestamps, permissions, etc.
• v is for 'verbose', which means it tells you what it's doing
• P is for 'progress' and 'partial', which allows for resuming an incomplete copy

Notes

• To keep files in sync in both directions, you have to run rsync in both directions as well; there is no single command to synchronize two directory trees.
• This probably does not also remove destination files deleted from the source.
• To use rsync in an automated script (e.g. for backups), see keyed login for password-less operation.
• Tentatively, to delete source files after copying to target, use --remove-source-files.

Links

• manpage (also at: linux.die.net ss64.com)

How To

• 2017-06-20 Using rsync to verify file trees match
• 2014-06-03 How do I make rsync delete files that have been deleted from the source folder?
• 2010-06-25 What are the differences between the rsync delete options?* Easy Automated Snapshot-Style Backups with Linux and Rsync
• Use rsync to back up a directory tree of files: a basic how-to