How to Transfer Files

Whether you're working on a remote development environment, managing cloud infrastructure, or just need to move some files between machines, knowing how to transfer files between your local system and a remote server is essential.

In this guide, we’ll cover several reliable methods for transferring files both to and from a remote server, using command-line tools and graphical interfaces.

Prerequisites

Make sure you have:

• Access to the remote server (typically via SSH)
• The server’s IP address or domain name
• Login credentials (username and password or SSH key)
• Proper permissions to read/write files on both machines

1. Using scp (Secure Copy Protocol)

scp is one of the most widely used tools to securely transfer files between machines over SSH.

Copy from Remote to Local:

scp username@remote_host:/path/to/remote/file /path/to/local/destination

Example:

scp user@192.168.1.10:/home/user/data.txt ~/Downloads/

Copy from Local to Remote:

scp /path/to/local/file username@remote_host:/path/to/remote/destination

Example:

scp ~/Documents/report.pdf user@192.168.1.10:/home/user/

To copy entire directories, add the -r (recursive) flag.

2. Using rsync

rsync is a powerful utility that’s ideal for syncing files and handling large or repeated transfers.

Remote to Local:

rsync -avz username@remote_host:/path/to/remote/file /local/destination

Local to Remote:

rsync -avz /local/file username@remote_host:/remote/destination

Example:

# Local to Remote
rsync -avz ~/Projects/ user@192.168.1.10:/home/user/ProjectsBackup/

Benefits of rsync:

• Faster for large or incremental transfers
• Supports resuming interrupted transfers
• Syncs entire directories with minimal bandwidth

3. Using SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol)

SFTP allows interactive file management over SSH.

Start an SFTP session:

sftp user@remote_host

Once connected, you can use:

• get remote_file → to download from remote to local
• put local_file → to upload from local to remote
• ls, cd, lcd, pwd, mkdir → to navigate and manage files

Example:

sftp user@192.168.1.10
sftp> put ~/Documents/resume.pdf
sftp> get /home/user/config.yaml
sftp> bye

4. Using FileZilla (GUI)

If you prefer a GUI, FileZilla is a popular tool that supports SFTP connections.

To use FileZilla:

1. Install and open FileZilla.
2. Go to File > Site Manager.
3. Create a new site with:
   • Protocol: SFTP - SSH File Transfer Protocol
   • Host: Your server IP or domain
   • Username & Password or Key File
4. Connect and use drag-and-drop to transfer files between local and remote directories.

Best Practices

• Always use secure protocols (SCP, SFTP, or rsync over SSH)
• Use SSH keys for easier and more secure login
• Be cautious when overwriting files
• Automate frequent transfers with scripts (bash, cron jobs, etc.)

Common Issues & Fixes

• Permission denied: Ensure you have the correct user permissions on the file or directory.
• Command not found: You might need to install tools like scp, rsync, or sftp.
  • Ubuntu/Debian: sudo apt install openssh-client rsync
  • macOS: Pre-installed
  • Windows: Use WSL or Git Bash, or install OpenSSH

Conclusion

Transferring files between your local system and a remote server is a fundamental skill, whether you're managing cloud environments, deploying applications, or just backing up data. With tools like scp, rsync, sftp, and FileZilla, you have flexible and secure options to fit your workflow.