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