File Transfer Between Linux Servers – Using SSH

Introduction: Transferring files between Linux servers is an essential task for system administrators and developers. To perform this task securely and efficiently, the SSH (Secure Shell) protocol is commonly used. This article will provide a detailed explanation of how to transfer files between Linux servers and how to utilize SSH for this purpose.

What is SSH? SSH is a secure protocol used for remote access to Linux servers and for secure file transfer. It ensures communication security through data encryption and provides authentication.

Using SSH for File Transfer: To transfer files between Linux servers, you can follow these steps:

1. Logging In with SSH: To log in to a remote server via SSH, open a terminal and use the following command:

ssh username@remote_server_ip

This command allows you to connect to the remote server with your username. You will be prompted to enter your password.

2. File Transfer Methods: Commonly used methods for file transfer are SCP (Secure Copy) and SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol).

SCP (Secure Copy): You can copy files using the SCP command as follows:

scp file.txt username@remote_server_ip:/remote_directory/

This command copies the "file.txt" to the specified directory on the remote server.

SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol): SFTP can be used through a graphical file manager or from the command line. To initiate an SFTP session, you can use the following command:

sftp username@remote_server_ip

This command initiates an SFTP session and allows interaction with the remote server.

3. File Transfer: Using SCP or SFTP commands, you can copy files to or from the remote server. For example:

scp file.txt username@remote_server_ip:/remote_directory/

This command copies "file.txt" to the specified directory on the remote server.

4. Completing the File Transfer: Once you have completed the file transfer, you can exit the SSH session using the following command:

exit

Conclusion: Transferring files between Linux servers using SSH is a secure and efficient method. In this article, you have learned how to log in with SSH, perform file transfers, and complete these tasks. Thanks to the security and convenience provided by SSH, you can seamlessly perform file transfer operations.