rsync is a fast, versatile file synchronization and transfer tool for Unix systems. It uses a delta-transfer algorithm to minimize data transfer by sending only differences between source and destination files.
📑 Table of Contents
Key Features
- Delta Transfer: Only transfers changed data
- Compression: Optional on-the-fly compression
- Preserve Attributes: Maintains permissions and timestamps
- SSH Support: Secure remote transfers
- Bandwidth Limiting: Control transfer speed
Installation
Install rsync on Ubuntu:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install rsyncUsage Examples
Common rsync operations:
# Local sync
rsync -avh /source/ /destination/
# Remote sync over SSH
rsync -avz -e ssh /local/path/ user@remote:/remote/path/
# With progress and delete
rsync -avh --progress --delete /source/ /destination/
# Dry run to preview
rsync -avhn /source/ /destination/Benefits
rsync’s efficiency makes it perfect for backups and synchronization. Its incremental approach saves bandwidth while its reliability makes it suitable for mission-critical data transfers.
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