How do I copy a folder from remote to local using scp?

Copying Folders from Remote to Local with SCP

Learn how to securely transfer entire directories from a remote server to your local machine using the scp command-line utility.

The scp (secure copy) command is a powerful and widely used command-line utility for securely transferring files and directories between hosts on a network. It uses SSH for data transfer and provides the same authentication and security as SSH. This article will guide you through the process of copying a folder from a remote server to your local machine.

Understanding the SCP Command Syntax

The basic syntax for scp is similar to cp (copy), but it includes remote host and path information. When copying from a remote location to a local one, you specify the remote source first, followed by the local destination.

graph TD
    A[Local Machine] --> B{scp command}
    B --> C[Remote Server]
    C --> D["Source Folder (remote)"]
    D --> B
    B --> E["Destination Folder (local)"]
    E --> A

Conceptual flow of SCP copying a remote folder to a local machine.

scp -r user@remote_host:/path/to/remote/folder /path/to/local/destination

Basic scp command for copying a remote folder to local.

Let's break down the components of this command:

1. scp

The command itself, initiating the secure copy process.

2. -r

This crucial option stands for 'recursive'. It tells scp to copy directories and their contents recursively. Without this, scp would only attempt to copy a file and would fail on a directory.

3. user@remote_host

This specifies the remote server. user is the username you use to log into the remote server, and remote_host is either the IP address or the hostname of the remote server.

4. :/path/to/remote/folder

This is the full path to the folder you want to copy on the remote server. The colon : separates the remote host information from the remote path.

5. /path/to/local/destination

This is the full path on your local machine where you want the remote folder to be copied. If the destination folder does not exist, scp will create it. If it exists, the remote folder will be copied inside it.

Practical Examples and Common Scenarios

Here are a few practical examples to illustrate how to use scp for different scenarios.

# Example 1: Copying a folder from a remote user's home directory to your local current directory
scp -r myuser@192.168.1.100:~/my_project_data .

# Example 2: Copying a folder from a specific remote path to a specific local path
scp -r admin@example.com:/var/www/html/backup /Users/myusername/Desktop/server_backups

# Example 3: Copying a folder using a non-standard SSH port (-P option)
scp -r -P 2222 devuser@devserver.com:/opt/app_logs /var/log/local_app_logs

Practical scp examples for various remote-to-local folder copy operations.

Authentication and Security Considerations

scp relies on SSH for authentication. This means you'll typically be prompted for a password for the remote user unless you have SSH key-based authentication set up. Using SSH keys is highly recommended for automation and enhanced security.

For more advanced usage, such as limiting bandwidth or preserving file attributes, consult the man scp page on your terminal.