Rsync How To

Always use rsync over ssh

Since rsync does not provide any security while transferring data it is recommended that you use rsync over ssh session. This allows a secure remote connection. Now let us see some examples of rsync command.

Comman rsync command options

    • --delete : delete files that don't exist on sender (system)

    • -v : Verbose (try -vv for more detailed information)

    • -e "ssh options" : specify the ssh as remote shell

    • -a : archive mode

    • -r : recurse into directories

    • -z : compress file data

Task : Copy file from a local computer to a remote server

Copy file from /www/backup.tar.gz to a remote server called openbsd.nixcraft.in

$ rsync -v -e ssh /www/backup.tar.gz jerry@openbsd.nixcraft.in:~

Output:

Password: sent 19099 bytes received 36 bytes 1093.43 bytes/sec total size is 19014 speedup is 0.99

Please note that symbol ~ indicate the users home directory (/home/jerry).

Task : Copy file from a remote server to a local computer

Copy file /home/jerry/webroot.txt from a remote server openbsd.nixcraft.in to a local computer's /tmp directory:

$ rsync -v -e ssh jerry@openbsd.nixcraft.in:~/webroot.txt /tmp

Task: Synchronize a local directory with a remote directory

$ rsync -r -a -v -e "ssh -l jerry" --delete /local/webroot openbsd.nixcraft.in:/webroot

Task: Synchronize a remote directory with a local directory

$ rsync -r -a -v -e "ssh -l jerry" --delete openbsd.nixcraft.in:/webroot/ /local/webroot

Task: Synchronize a local directory with a remote rsync server or vise-versa

$ rsync -r -a -v --delete rsync://rsync.nixcraft.in/cvs /home/cvs

OR

$ rsync -r -a -v --delete /home/cvs rsync://rsync.nixcraft.in/cvs

Task: Mirror a directory between my "old" and "new" web server/ftp

You can mirror a directory between my "old" (my.old.server.com) and "new" web server with the command (assuming that ssh keys are set for password less authentication)

$ rsync -zavrR --delete --links --rsh="ssh -l vivek" my.old.server.com:/home/lighttpd /home/lighttpd

ref: http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/linux-use-rsync-transfer-mirror-files-directories.html