$rsync
Fast and versatile remote and local file-copying and synchronization tool.
rsync [OPTIONS] SOURCE... DESTTry `rsync` Live in Interactive Sandbox
Zero-install client simulation with real-time feedback.
Overview & How rsync Works
`rsync` (Remote Sync) synchronizes files and directories between two locations with delta-transfer algorithm, minimizing data transfer by sending only the differences between files.
Common Flags & Command Options
| Flag / Option | Description |
|---|---|
| -a, --archive | Archive mode (preserves permissions, timestamps, symlinks, owners, groups). |
| -v, --verbose | Increase verbosity showing transferred files. |
| -z, --compress | Compress file data during transfer. |
| --delete | Delete extraneous files from destination directories that no longer exist in source. |
Practical Real-World Examples
rsync -avz /home/user/projects/ user@backup-server:/backups/projects/Transfers and synchronizes project folder with compression and archive preservation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the trailing slash difference in rsync source paths?
`rsync -a src/ dst/` copies the *contents* of `src` into `dst`, whereas `rsync -a src dst/` creates the folder `dst/src`.
Related Linux Commands
Copy files and directories to a destination path.
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Print network connections, routing tables, interface statistics, and listening ports.