how to scp linux

Colin Whitehouse

2 min read

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06-09-2024

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Secure Copy Protocol, commonly known as SCP, is a secure file transfer protocol that allows you to copy files between a local host and a remote host. It uses Secure Shell (SSH) for data transfer, ensuring that your files remain secure during the transit. In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to effectively use SCP on a Linux system.

What You Need Before You Start

Before diving into the steps, ensure you have the following:

• A Linux system (Ubuntu, CentOS, Fedora, etc.)
• Access to a terminal
• SSH access to the remote server (username and password or private key)
• The IP address or hostname of the remote server

Basic Syntax of SCP

The basic syntax of the SCP command is:

scp [options] [source] [destination]

Examples of SCP Commands

1. Copy a File from Local to Remote

To copy a file from your local machine to a remote server, use:

scp /path/to/local/file username@remote_host:/path/to/remote/directory

Example:

scp /home/user/example.txt john@192.168.1.5:/home/john/

2. Copy a File from Remote to Local

To copy a file from a remote server to your local machine, use:

scp username@remote_host:/path/to/remote/file /path/to/local/directory

Example:

scp john@192.168.1.5:/home/john/example.txt /home/user/

3. Copy a Directory Recursively

To copy an entire directory, add the -r option:

scp -r /path/to/local/directory username@remote_host:/path/to/remote/directory

Example:

scp -r /home/user/my_folder john@192.168.1.5:/home/john/

SCP Options

Here are some useful SCP options that you might find helpful:

• -r: Recursively copy entire directories.
• -P: Specify a port when connecting to the remote server (Note: uppercase 'P').
• -i: Specify the identity file (private key) to use for authentication.
• -v: Enable verbose mode, which provides detailed output of the transfer process.

Example Using Options

If you need to specify a port:

scp -P 2222 /home/user/example.txt john@192.168.1.5:/home/john/

Troubleshooting SCP Issues

When using SCP, you may encounter some common issues. Here are some tips to troubleshoot:

1. Permission Denied: Check that you have the correct permissions on the remote server. Ensure the username and password or private key are correct.

2. Connection Timeout: Verify that the remote server is online and reachable. You can use ping remote_host to check connectivity.

3. SSH Connection Refused: Ensure that the SSH service is running on the remote server.

Conclusion

SCP is a powerful tool for securely transferring files over a network. By following the commands and tips outlined above, you should be able to easily send and receive files between your local and remote machines.

For further reading on secure file transfers, check out our articles on SFTP: Secure File Transfer and Understanding SSH: The Basics.

Happy transferring!