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File Transfer to Server: SCP, SFTP and rsync Guide

Complete guide to SCP syntax, SFTP interactive mode, rsync for sync and backup, and WinSCP/FileZilla for Windows users. Secure file transfer to Linux servers.

Read time: 11 min Server Management
scpsftprsyncfile transferwinscpfilezillasshlinux
Author
REXE Teknoloji Network & Security Team
Editor
REXE Teknoloji Technical Editorial
First published
Last updated

File Transfer to Server: SCP, SFTP and rsync Guide

There are multiple secure methods for transferring files to your Linux server. SCP (Secure Copy Protocol), SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol), and rsync all use SSH infrastructure to provide encrypted file transfer. This guide covers all three tools and graphical alternatives for Windows users.

File Transfer with SCP

SCP is a simple and fast tool for copying files over SSH.

Basic SCP Syntax

hljs bash
# Copy local file to server
scp /local/file.txt user@server-ip:/remote/directory/

# Copy from server to local machine
scp user@server-ip:/remote/file.txt /local/directory/

# Copy directory (-r recursive)
scp -r /local/directory/ user@server-ip:/remote/directory/

# Custom port (-P uppercase)
scp -P 2222 file.txt user@server-ip:/destination/

# With SSH key file
scp -i ~/.ssh/id_rsa file.txt user@server-ip:/destination/

# Copy between two remote servers
scp user1@server1:/file.txt user2@server2:/destination/

SCP Options

hljs bash
# Transfer with compression (-C)
scp -C large-file.tar.gz user@server-ip:/destination/

# Show progress (-v verbose)
scp -v file.txt user@server-ip:/destination/

# Limit bandwidth (KB/s)
scp -l 1024 file.txt user@server-ip:/destination/

# Multiple files
scp file1.txt file2.txt user@server-ip:/destination/

# With wildcard
scp *.log user@server-ip:/var/log/backup/

SCP is ideal for simple file copying. For large directory synchronization or backups, rsync is more efficient.

File Transfer with SFTP

SFTP is a full-featured file transfer protocol running over SSH. It's the secure alternative to FTP.

SFTP Connection

hljs bash
# Start SFTP session
sftp user@server-ip

# With custom port
sftp -P 2222 user@server-ip

# With SSH key
sftp -i ~/.ssh/id_rsa user@server-ip

SFTP Interactive Commands

Commands available once an SFTP session is open:

hljs bash
# List remote directory
ls
ls -la

# Change remote directory
cd /var/www/html

# Change local directory
lcd ~/Downloads

# Show current remote directory
pwd

# Show current local directory
lpwd

# Upload file (local → remote)
put file.txt
put file.txt /destination/directory/

# Upload directory
put -r /local/directory/ /remote/directory/

# Download file (remote → local)
get file.txt
get /remote/file.txt ~/Downloads/

# Download directory
get -r /remote/directory/ /local/directory/

# Create remote directory
mkdir new-directory

# Delete remote file
rm file.txt

# Move/rename remote file
rename old-name.txt new-name.txt

# Close SFTP session
exit
quit

Batch SFTP Operations

hljs bash
# SFTP in batch mode (with script)
sftp -b - user@server-ip << 'EOF'
cd /var/www/html
put index.html
put style.css
put app.js
EOF

# With batch file
cat > sftp-commands.txt << 'EOF'
cd /var/www/html
put -r ./dist/
EOF
sftp -b sftp-commands.txt user@server-ip

Synchronization and Backup with rsync

rsync is a powerful tool for efficiently synchronizing files and directories. It only transfers changed files.

Basic rsync Syntax

hljs bash
# Sync local directory to server
rsync -avz /local/directory/ user@server-ip:/remote/directory/

# Sync from server to local machine
rsync -avz user@server-ip:/remote/directory/ /local/directory/

# With custom SSH port
rsync -avz -e "ssh -p 2222" /local/ user@server-ip:/remote/

# With SSH key
rsync -avz -e "ssh -i ~/.ssh/id_rsa" /local/ user@server-ip:/remote/

rsync Options

hljs bash
# -a: archive (recursive + permissions + timestamps + symlinks)
# -v: verbose output
# -z: compress during transfer
# -h: human-readable sizes
# -P: progress + partial (resume interrupted transfers)
# --delete: delete files not in source
# --dry-run: simulate without actual transfer
# --exclude: exclude specific files

# Full backup command
rsync -avzh --progress /var/www/ user@server-ip:/backup/www/

# Sync including deletions
rsync -avz --delete /local/ user@server-ip:/remote/

# Simulate first
rsync -avz --dry-run /local/ user@server-ip:/remote/

# Exclude specific files
rsync -avz --exclude='*.log' --exclude='.git' /local/ user@server-ip:/remote/

# Limit bandwidth (KB/s)
rsync -avz --bwlimit=1024 /local/ user@server-ip:/remote/

Automated Backup with rsync

hljs bash
# Daily backup with cron
crontab -e

# Backup every night at 02:00
0 2 * * * rsync -avz --delete /var/www/ user@backup-server:/backup/www/ >> /var/log/rsync-backup.log 2>&1

# Dated backup
rsync -avz /var/www/ user@server-ip:/backup/www-$(date +%Y%m%d)/

rsync's most powerful feature is its delta transfer algorithm: it only transfers changed blocks. If a small part of a large file changes, rsync only sends that changed portion, saving significant bandwidth.

Graphical Interfaces for Windows Users

WinSCP

WinSCP is the most popular SFTP/SCP client for Windows.

Installation and Connection:

  1. Download from winscp.net
  2. Create a new session:
    • File protocol: SFTP
    • Server address: server-ip
    • Port: 22
    • Username and password
  3. For SSH key: Advanced → SSH → Authentication → Private key file

WinSCP Features:

  • Drag-and-drop file transfer
  • Directory synchronization
  • Built-in text editor
  • Command-line interface (winscp.com)
  • Background transfers

FileZilla

FileZilla is a cross-platform SFTP client for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Setting Up Connection:

  1. Download from filezilla-project.org
  2. Site Manager → New Site:
    • Protocol: SFTP - SSH File Transfer Protocol
    • Server: server-ip
    • Port: 22
    • Logon type: Normal or Key file
  3. Connect

SSH Config for Easy Connections

hljs bash
# Edit ~/.ssh/config
nano ~/.ssh/config

Host my-server
    HostName 203.0.113.50
    User ubuntu
    Port 22
    IdentityFile ~/.ssh/id_rsa
    ServerAliveInterval 60
hljs bash
# Now connect with short alias
scp file.txt my-server:/destination/
sftp my-server
rsync -avz /local/ my-server:/remote/

Troubleshooting

Connection Refused

hljs bash
# Test SSH connection
ssh -v user@server-ip

# Check port
nmap -p 22 server-ip

# Check firewall
sudo ufw status

Permission Error

hljs bash
# Check destination directory permissions
ls -la /destination/directory/

# Fix permissions if needed
sudo chmod 755 /destination/directory/
sudo chown user:user /destination/directory/

Conclusion

SCP, SFTP, and rsync are essential tools for secure file transfer to Linux servers. Use SCP for simple copying, SFTP for interactive management, and rsync for synchronization and backups. Windows users can access the same functionality through WinSCP or FileZilla's graphical interfaces.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between SCP and SFTP?

SCP is a simple, fast tool for file copying — it only copies. SFTP is a full-featured file management protocol: it supports creating directories, deleting, renaming, and interactive sessions. Use SCP for simple copying, SFTP for full file management.

Why is rsync more efficient than SCP?

rsync uses a delta transfer algorithm: it only transfers changed blocks of files. If a small part of a large file changes, rsync only sends that changed portion. SCP copies the entire file every time.

How do I transfer files from Windows to a Linux server?

On Windows, use WinSCP or FileZilla. Both support the SFTP protocol and allow SSH key authentication. WinSCP offers more advanced features while FileZilla stands out with cross-platform support.

How do I protect against accidentally deleting files with rsync?

First simulate with '--dry-run': 'rsync -avz --dry-run --delete /source/ /destination/'. This shows what would happen without actually transferring. If you're satisfied with the results, run without '--dry-run'.

What happens if the connection drops during a large file transfer?

With rsync using the '-P' (--partial --progress) option, an interrupted transfer resumes from where it left off. With SCP, you need to restart the transfer from the beginning. This is why rsync is preferred for large files.

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