File Transfer (SCP / SFTP / rsync)

There are several methods to transfer files between your computer and the server. The most common is SCP, but SFTP and rsync are often better for specific cases.

SCP: simple copy

SCP (Secure Copy) transfers files using SSH. Basic syntax:

# From your PC to server
scp /local/path/file.txt root@IP:/remote/path/

# From server to your PC
scp root@IP:/remote/path/file.txt /local/path/

# Entire folder (flag -r)
scp -r /local/folder/ root@IP:/var/www/html/

# Custom SSH port
scp -P 2222 file.txt root@IP:/tmp/

SFTP: interactive client

SFTP works like traditional FTP but encrypted. Useful for exploring the server filesystem:

sftp root@IP

Commands inside SFTP:

ls              # List files on server
lls             # List local files
cd /var/www     # Change directory on server
lcd ~/Desktop   # Change local directory
get file.txt    # Download file from server
put file.txt    # Upload file to server
mget *.log      # Download multiple files
mput *.php      # Upload multiple files
rm file.txt     # Delete file on server
exit            # Exit

rsync: intelligent synchronization

rsync is ideal for transferring large amounts of files or syncing directories: it transfers only modified files, much faster than SCP for incremental updates.

# From PC to server
rsync -avz /local/path/ root@IP:/remote/path/

# From server to PC
rsync -avz root@IP:/remote/path/ /local/path/

# With progress
rsync -avz --progress /source/ root@IP:/destination/

# Exclude folders
rsync -avz --exclude='node_modules' --exclude='.git' /project/ root@IP:/var/www/project/

# Custom SSH port
rsync -avz -e "ssh -p 2222" /source/ root@IP:/destination/

# Delete files in destination that no longer exist in source
rsync -avz --delete /source/ root@IP:/destination/

Common options:

-a: archive (preserves permissions, timestamps, symlinks)
-v: verbose (shows transferred files)
-z: compress data during transfer
--progress: shows progress bar

Graphical clients (Windows / macOS)

If you prefer a graphical interface:

Client	System	Notes
WinSCP	Windows	SFTP/SCP with dual-pane interface
FileZilla	Win/Mac/Linux	SFTP supported, familiar interface
Cyberduck	Mac/Windows	Free, supports SFTP and many clouds
Transmit	macOS	Paid, very performant

Configuration in these clients:

Protocol: SFTP
Host: server IP
Port: 22 (or your custom port)
User: root
Authentication: password or private key

Transfer files between two servers

# From server A, copy a file to server B
scp /file/on/server-a root@IP_SERVER_B:/destination/

# With rsync
rsync -avz /source/ root@IP_SERVER_B:/destination/