scp

Securely copy files between hosts over SSH.

Synopsis

scp [options] source target

When to Use It

Use scp for quick one-off file transfers between your machine and a server, shipping logs off a host, copying deployment bundles to a VM, or moving files through an SSH bastion without setting up a larger sync workflow.

Core Options

-P PORT

Connect to a custom port.

-i file

Use a specific private key.

-r

Copy directories recursively.

-C

Enable compression.

-J host

ProxyJump via a bastion host.

Usage Examples

Copy to Server

Upload a file.

scp file.txt user@server:/opt/data/

Copy from Server

Download a file.

scp user@server:/opt/data/report.csv .

Copy Directory

Upload a folder recursively.

scp -r ./logs user@server:/var/tmp/

Custom Port & Key

Use a key and non-default port.

scp -i ~/.ssh/id_ed25519 -P 2222 file.txt user@server:/opt/data/

Via Bastion Host

Copy through a jump server.

scp -J bastion.example.com ./build.tar.gz user@app:/srv/releases/

Remote to Remote

Copy between two remote hosts when your machine is only the control point.

scp user@source:/var/log/app.log user@target:/tmp/app.log

Common Mistakes

  • scp overwrites target files without much ceremony, so double-check the destination path before pressing Enter.
  • Custom SSH ports use uppercase -P, while lowercase -p preserves timestamps in some implementations. Mixing them up is common.
  • For frequent or large sync jobs, rsync over SSH is usually safer and faster because it can resume and copy only changed blocks.

Related

ssh Command Guide

Set up connectivity, keys, and bastion access before copying files.

curl Command Guide

Use curl instead when the source is an HTTP endpoint rather than another shell host.

find Command Guide

Build file lists to copy after locating the exact logs or artifacts you need.

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