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rsync

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description rsync Overview

rsync is the gold standard for efficiently synchronizing files and directories over a network or locally. Its core strength lies in its delta-transfer algorithm, which only sends the *differences* between source and destination files. This makes backups, mirroring, and large data synchronization incredibly fast and bandwidth-efficient.

help rsync FAQ

What does the trailing slash change in an rsync source path?

A source such as "photos/" copies the contents of that directory, while "photos" also creates the directory itself at the destination. This small syntax difference is one of the most common causes of an unexpected extra folder level.

Does rsync resume a file after an interrupted transfer?

It can preserve partial data with options such as --partial or --partial-dir and reuse it on the next run. Without an appropriate partial-file option, an interrupted temporary file may be removed.

Can rsync make the destination an exact mirror of the source?

Yes, adding --delete removes destination files that no longer exist at the source. Because that can erase data, users commonly test the command first with --dry-run.

Does rsync encrypt files sent to another computer?

rsync's transfer algorithm does not itself guarantee network encryption. Using rsync over SSH, commonly with a source or destination written as host:path, protects the transport with SSH.

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