[Unix] C Shell (csh) scp Uso: Securely copy files between hosts

Overview

The scp (secure copy) command is used to securely transfer files and directories between two hosts over a network. It utilizes SSH (Secure Shell) for data transfer, ensuring that the data is encrypted during the process.

Usage

The basic syntax of the scp command is as follows:

scp [options] [source] [destination]

Common Options

• -r: Recursively copy entire directories.
• -P port: Specify the port to connect to on the remote host.
• -i identity_file: Select the file from which the identity (private key) for public key authentication is read.
• -v: Enable verbose mode, which provides detailed information about the transfer process.

Common Examples

1. Copy a file from local to remote:

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

2. Copy a file from remote to local:

   scp user@remotehost:/path/to/remotefile.txt /local/destination/
   

3. Copy a directory recursively from local to remote:

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

4. Copy a file using a specific port:

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

5. Copy a file using a specific identity file:

   scp -i ~/.ssh/id_rsa localfile.txt user@remotehost:/path/to/destination/
   

Tips

• Always ensure that the SSH service is running on the remote host before attempting to use scp.
• Use the -v option for troubleshooting if you encounter issues during file transfer.
• When transferring large files or directories, consider using rsync for better performance and resuming capabilities.