Hi

I have to move files between two file systems /inst and /inst2.
When I perform 'cp -a /inst /inst2' it copies everything even hidden files and preserves access permissions.

But when I perform 'mv /inst /inst2' it also preserves access perms and moves everything besides hidden files.

Questions :
------------
Why is so ?
What tool to use when moving file systems from one fs to another (rsync) ?

thx for help.

Hi there,

Well mv should also move the hidden files because you are moving the folder. It is not possible that it is not moving the hidden files.

I have just tried moving mv /home/test /root/ and it does moves the hidden files.

rsync is something different it is usually used for backup purpose. For example you have set up /backup directory to backup your file system data.

If you set up a script to run rsync to copy the data from /test to /backup it will copy only copy the difference.

Suppose /test is your live directory which changes everyday by the users and they save their work their and on /backup you already have this directory backed up before. Then rsync will only copy over the difference that is there on /test and /backup.

There is no problem when I use 'mv /inst /inst2'.
Then it copies everything perfectly but i have inst directory inside of inst2 directory.

I would like to move only content on inst dir into inst2 dir.
When I perform 'mv /inst/* /inst2' or 'mv /inst /inst2' it copies everything apart hidden files.

How to move only content of /inst dir also with hidden files ?

Try mv /inst/*.* /inst2

It doesn't work that way.

That is because there is either no file with the extension or no file with the name (without name file .bashrc). Linux interpret .bashrc as .bashrc extension.

You have to try that command accordingly. For example if in a directory you have following types of file:

Scenario 1:

1. /test contains only name.txt files then run mv -v /test/*.* /destination_partition/destination_folder.

Scenario 2:

2. /test contains only .extension files (like .bashrc) run mv -v /test/.* /destination_partition/destination_folder.

Scenario 3:

3. /test contains both files .extension and name.txt files run mv -v /test/*.* /destination_partition/destination_folder && mv -v /test/.* /destination_partition/destination_folder

I have added -v so that you can see the progress.

Why don't you use rsync?

# rsync -avp /inst/ /inst2/

Note the slash at /inst/.
I use rsync at all time, it's just faster.

Hi Sibe,

I think that command will copy over the files but files will remain there on the source. What he is looking for is moving the files.

--
Ah, you're right. Sorry.