rsync – File Synchronization

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.

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 rsync

Usage 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.

Download rsync