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Different methods for file transfer

BeerW0lf | 2021-02-12

There are many ways to transfer files between hosts on a network. If you don't have a proper network, you might need to resort to "sneakernet". For those unfamiliar with the term, you slap your data to a physical device, be it a floppy, cdr, usb stick or a tape, and use your feet to transfer it between hosts. There are more sophisticated methods when your hosts have access to a proper network.

These should work if the remote host has an ssh server installed. Nc is an exception, it only requires that you have some kind of access to both hosts.

scp

Just like cp.

# From local host to remote
scp /local_path/file username@remote-host.net:/remote_path/

# From remote host to local host
scp username@remote-host.net:/remote_path/file /local_path/

rsync

Rsync is great if you need to make recurring backups. Only the changes are copied. The following will sync the entire directory recursively. You may want to drop the -z option if you have a fast connection.

rsync -e ssh -azAX /local_path/to/copy username@remote-host.net:/remote_path/to/save/

# Options are:
# -A : Preserve ACL.
# -X : Preserve extended attributes/SELinux.
# -a : Archive mode.
# -z : Compress file data during the transfer.

sftp

Sftp can transfer files, but it can also be used to navigate the remote file system and make modifications if needed. If you're on a desktop, you can use a graphical client. I've mostly used Filezilla, but there are many to choose from.

If your on a terminal, fear not, it's pretty easy to use as well.

sftp username@remote-host.net

# After login you'll be on the remote file system, where you can:

# Download file to your local directory, where you started the client
sftp> get /path/to/file/on/remote-server/foo

# Download to specific directory
sftp> get /path/to/file/on/remote_server/foo /local_directory/

# Download whole directory recursively
sftp> get -r /remote_servers/directory /local_directory/

# Upload a file from local server
sftp> put /local_directory/file /remote_server/

# Upload local directory recursively
sftp> put -r  /local_host/dir /remote_directory/

# You can also navigate and modify the remote file system
sftp> cd /remote_directory
sftp> rm /remote_dir/file
sftp> rmdir /remote_dir
sftp> mkdir /remote/dir
sftp> rename file_name new_file_name
sftp> chmod 664 remote_dir/or/file
sftp> chown username /remote/file/or/dir
sftp> chgrp groupname /remote/file/or/dir

nc

When you have a fast network, and secure connections only slow your CPU down, or you're just too lazy to setup user accounts for one time transfer, you'll want to use netcat. Just be aware, that this transfer is NOT ENCRYPTED and should not be used outside local networks.

The following will send the whole directory recursively. The pv pipe is optional, but very nice to have a progress counter for large tarsfers.

# local host
tar -cp /local_path/to/send | nc -N remote-host.net 44444

# remote host
nc -vl 44444 | pv | tar -xv

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