scp and rsync for file transfer in Linux CLI - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What does the scp command do?

scp stands for secure copy. It copies files or folders between computers over a network using SSH for security.

beginner

How is rsync different from scp?

rsync copies files like scp but only transfers changed parts of files, making it faster for repeated transfers.

intermediate

What option in rsync preserves file permissions and timestamps?

The -a option (archive mode) preserves permissions, timestamps, symbolic links, and more.

beginner

Write a simple scp command to copy file.txt from your local machine to a remote server at user@host in the home directory.

scp file.txt user@host:~

This copies file.txt to the remote user's home folder.

intermediate

Why might you choose rsync over scp for backups?

rsync only sends changed parts of files, saving time and bandwidth. It also can resume interrupted transfers.

Which command uses SSH to securely copy files between computers?

A scp

B ftp

C cp

D mv

scp uses SSH to securely copy files over a network.

What does the -a option do in rsync?

A Deletes files after transfer

B Compresses files before transfer

C Archive mode, preserves permissions and timestamps

D Runs transfer in background

-a preserves file attributes like permissions and timestamps.

Which tool is better for syncing large folders repeatedly with minimal data transfer?

A scp

B rsync

C cat

D tar

rsync only transfers changed parts, making it efficient for repeated syncs.

How do you specify the destination directory in scp?

A Using the <code>-d</code> option

B Before the source file

C scp does not support destination directories

D After a colon following the remote user and host

Use user@host:/path/to/destination to specify remote destination.

Which command can resume interrupted file transfers?

A rsync

B scp

C cp

D mv

rsync can resume interrupted transfers by syncing only missing parts.

Explain how scp and rsync differ in transferring files over a network.

Think about speed and efficiency differences.

Describe a situation where using rsync is better than scp.

Consider repeated file syncing.