Stage 8 · Lesson 3 of 9

Copying files: scp and rsync

Two tools copy files to and from a server over . is fine for a single file: scp file.txt myvps:~/. rsync is better for folders: rsync -avz ./site/ myvps:/var/www/site/. It only sends what changed and can resume after a break. --delete also removes files on the other side that you removed locally.

Watch the slash at the end of the source. With it, rsync copies what is inside the folder; without it, it copies the folder itself. Run with --dry-run first to see what would change. rsync also works as a simple backup tool.

Common traprunning rsync with --delete and the source and destination swapped, which deletes the files you meant to keep.

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Resources for this stage

Start with· follow one of these

GuideFree
Initial Server Setup with Ubuntu (DigitalOcean)
DigitalOcean · Beginner
A clear, widely used checklist for a new user, sudo, SSH access and a firewall on Ubuntu
CourseFree
The Missing Semester of Your CS Education
MIT · Beginner
The command-line environment lecture covers SSH, tmux, job control and dotfiles

Practise

Linux Upskill Challenge
A free month of daily sysadmin tasks on your own server, from SSH to logs and scheduling
OverTheWire: Bandit
Its later levels need SSH keys, ports and network tools to move on

Keep handy

Everything curl
The free book on curl by its creator, for every option you will need
VS Code Remote Development
Edit files on your server (or in WSL) from VS Code over SSH

Also worth your time

roadmap.sh: LinuxGo deeper
The server, networking and troubleshooting branches of the Linux map