scp and rsync for file transfer in Linux CLI - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

💻 Command Output

intermediate

What is the output of this rsync command?

You run this command to copy files from your local folder to a remote server:

rsync -avz /home/user/docs/ user@remote:/backup/docs/

What will rsync display as output?

Linux CLI

rsync -avz /home/user/docs/ user@remote:/backup/docs/

A A simple message: 'Transfer complete' without file details

B Only a progress bar with percentage and speed

C No output unless there is an error

D A list of files copied with details and a summary of transferred bytes

💡 Hint

The -v option in rsync means verbose output.

The -a option means archive mode (preserves permissions, timestamps), -v means verbose (shows files copied), and -z compresses data. So rsync lists files copied with details and a summary.

💻 Command Output

intermediate

What error does this scp command produce?

You run this command to copy a file from a remote server to your local machine:

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

But the remote path is incorrect. What error message will scp show?

Linux CLI

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

A scp: /path/to/file.txt: No such file or directory

B Permission denied (publickey).

C Connection timed out during banner exchange

D scp: /local/path/: Not a directory

💡 Hint

Check if the remote file path exists.

If the remote file path does not exist, scp reports 'No such file or directory'. Other errors relate to authentication or local path issues.

📝 Syntax

advanced

Which rsync command correctly excludes all .log files during transfer?

You want to copy a folder but skip all files ending with .log. Which command does this correctly?

A rsync -av --exclude '*.log' /source /dest

B rsync -av --exclude '*.log' /source/ /dest/

C rsync -av --exclude='*.log' /source/ /dest/

D rsync -av --exclude=*.log /source/ /dest/

💡 Hint

The exclude pattern should be quoted to avoid shell expansion.

Option C correctly quotes the pattern with single quotes and includes trailing slashes on source and destination for proper directory sync.

💻 Command Output

advanced

What is the output of this scp command copying a directory?

You run:

scp -r /local/folder user@remote:/remote/folder

What output will scp produce?

Linux CLI

scp -r /local/folder user@remote:/remote/folder

A Syntax error: -r option not supported

B Copies all files and subfolders recursively, showing each file copied

C Copies only the folder without contents, no output

D Copies files but skips hidden files silently

💡 Hint

The -r option means recursive copy.

scp -r copies directories recursively and shows each file copied by default.

🚀 Application

expert

Which rsync command synchronizes two folders and deletes files in destination missing from source?

You want to make /backup an exact copy of /data, removing any files in /backup that are not in /data. Which command does this?

A rsync -av --delete /data/ /backup/

B rsync -av /data/ /backup/

C rsync -av --remove-source-files /data/ /backup/

D rsync -av --delete-after /backup/ /data/

💡 Hint

The --delete option removes extra files in destination.

Option A uses --delete to remove files in /backup not in /data, syncing exactly. Option A does not delete. Option A moves files. Option A reverses source and destination.