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RHCSA - Operate Running Systems: Securely Transfer Files Between Systems
It is important to understand how to transfer data securely and efficiently between different systems. In this lesson, we will explore three commonly used commands for copying files between systems: rsync, scp, and sftp.
For this lesson make sure you have a second server available to practice transferring files. If you do not have a second server that is ok, you can follow along by pretending to transfer to a remote server by specifying your current servers IP address as the destination location.
rsync
rsync is used for synchronizing and transferring files between local and remote systems. It utilizes a delta transfer algorithm to efficiently update only the changed parts of files, reducing network bandwidth usage and speeding up file transfers. rsync is particularly useful for tasks like remote backups, mirroring directories, and syncing files between systems.
rsync Syntax
To utilize rsync, you can use the following command syntax:
rsync [options] source destination
options: Additional flags and parameters to customize the rsync operation.source: The source file(s) or directory to be synced.destination: The target location where the files will be synchronized.
The below table shows some common options for the rsync command:
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
-v, --verbose |
Increases verbosity, providing more detailed output. |
-r, --recursive |
Recursively copies directories and their contents. |
-a, --archive |
Preserves permissions, ownership, timestamps, and symbolic links. |
-z, --compress |
Compresses data during transfer, reducing network usage. |
-n, --dry-run |
Performs a trial run without actually copying anything. |
--progress |
Shows the progress of the transfer. |
Practice Using rsync
Follow along with the exercises to become familiar with rsync.
Transfer a file to a remote destination:
On server 1, run the following, entering password if prompted:
rsync -avz /usr/share/man/man1/rsync.1.gz user@server2:/tmp
This will transfer the file to the /tmp directory on the target server, which can be confirmed by running the following on server 2:
ls -l /tmp/rsync.1.gz
Transfer recursively a directory to a remote destination:
The -a flag automatically includes the -r option so it does not need to be explicitly set.
On server 1, run the following, entering password if prompted:
rsync -avz /usr/share/man user@server2:/tmp/
This will transfer the man directory to the target server, which can be confirmed by running the following on server 2:
ls -lR /tmp/man
scp
Secure Copy Protocol (SCP) provides a secure and efficient method for transferring files between local and remote systems. SCP is based on the Secure Shell (SSH) protocol and offers a straightforward command-line interface for secure file transfers. It allows you to securely copy files and directories over SSH connections.
scp Syntax
To utilize SCP, you can use the following command syntax:
scp [options] source destination
options: Additional flags and parameters to customize the SCP operation.source: The source file(s) or directory to be copied.destination: The target location where the files will be copied.
The below table shows some common options for the scp command:
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
-P <port> |
Specify the remote port number. (Default: 22) |
-r |
Recursively copy entire directories. |
-p |
Preserve modification times, access times, and permissions. |
-v |
Verbose mode, shows the progress of the transfer. |
-C |
Enable compression during the transfer. |
Practice Using scp
Follow along with the exercises to become familiar with scp.
Transfer a file to a remote destination:
On server 1, run the following, entering password if prompted:
scp /usr/bin/scp user@server2:/tmp/
This will transfer the file to the /tmp directory on the target server, which can be confirmed by running the following on server 2:
ls -l /tmp/scp
Transfer recursively a directory to a remote destination:
On server 1, run the following, entering password if prompted:
scp -r /usr/share/doc/ user@server2:/tmp/
This will transfer the man directory to the target server, which can be confirmed by running the following on server 2:
ls -lR /tmp/doc
sftp
The Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) provides a secure and reliable method for transferring files between local and remote systems. Built on top of the Secure Shell (SSH) protocol, SFTP allows you to securely transfer files, manage directories, and perform various file operations over an encrypted connection. It offers a command-line interface similar to traditional FTP, making it a popular choice for secure file transfers.
sftp Syntax
To connect to a remote server using SFTP, you can use the following command:
sftp user@remote_server
Once connected to the remote server, you can navigate directories using commands similar to those in a typical shell. Here are some commonly used commands:
ls: List files and directories in the current directory.cd: Change the current directory.pwd: Display the current working directory.mkdir: Create a new directory.rmdir: Remove a directory (must be empty).rm: Remove a file.get: Download a file from the remote server to the local system.put: Upload a file from the local system to the remote server.
For the above commands, you can typically put an l in front of them to perform an action locally, even when connected to the remote system, for example lls or lcd to list and change directories.
Practice Using sftp
Follow along with the exercises to become familiar with sftp.
Connect to remote server and practice various commands:
Connect to server 2
sftp user@server2
Ensure you are in the remote users home directory:
pwd
List the contents of the remote directory:
ls -la
Change local directory to /tmp:
lcd /tmp
Confirm you are in the local /tmp directory:
lpwd
Retrieve the .bash_history file:
get .bash_history
Perform a local ls to confirm the file downloaded:
lls -l .bash_history
Change to /tmp directory on remote server:
cd /tmp
Upload the whole /usr/share/doc/sudo directory:
put -R /usr/share/doc/sudo
Confirm directory uploaded:
pwd
ls -l sudo
Exit from SFTP connection:
exit
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