rsync synchronizes files over SSH, with smart incremental copying (only transfers changed parts). Syntax: rsync [options] source destination
See also: Using scp for file transfers — comparison below.
Local to remote
Copy a single file to remote:
rsync -avz ./local-file.txt user@hostname:/path/to/remote/Copy a folder to remote:
rsync -avz ./local-folder/ user@hostname:/path/to/remote/Remote to local
Download a single file from remote:
rsync -avz user@hostname:/path/to/remote/file.txt ./local-folder/Download a folder from remote:
rsync -avz user@hostname:/path/to/remote/folder/ ./local-folder/Remote to remote
Sync between two remote servers:
rsync -avz --rsh=ssh user1@host1:/path/src/ user2@host2:/path/dest/Common options
-a— Archive mode (preserves permissions, times, etc.)-v— Verbose-z— Compress during transfer-r— Recursive--delete— Delete files in destination not in source--exclude=pattern— Skip matching files--dry-run— Preview without copying
rsync vs scp
| Feature | rsync | scp |
|---|---|---|
| Incremental | ✅ (only changed parts) | ❌ (full copy) |
| Resume | ✅ (can restart) | ❌ (restarts from beginning) |
| Bandwidth | Better (compression, skips unchanged) | Basic |
| Speed | Faster for repeated syncs | Faster for one-time small files |
| Complexity | More options, steeper learning curve | Simple, straightforward |
Use rsync for backups and large repeated syncs. Use scp for quick one-off file transfers.