Linux SCP Command Guide

Introduction

SCP (Secure Copy Protocol) is a command-line utility used to securely transfer files between hosts on a network. It uses SSH for data transfer and provides the same authentication and security as SSH.

Usage

To copy files, use the following command:

scp [options] [source] [destination]

Common Options

• -r: Recursively copy entire directories.
• -P <port>: Specify the port to connect to.
• -i <identity_file>: Use a specific private key for authentication.

Examples

1. Copy a file to a remote server:

   scp localfile.txt [email protected]:/path/to/destination/
   

2. Copy a file from a remote server:

   scp [email protected]:/path/to/remotefile.txt /local/destination/
   

3. Recursively copy a directory to a remote server:

   scp -r localdir/ [email protected]:/path/to/destination/
   

4. Specify a port for the connection:

   scp -P 2222 localfile.txt [email protected]:/path/to/destination/