Using pv in conjunction with cp
 

If I am copying a huge file and I want to monitor the progress what is the best way to do it. I tried doing...
$ cp file /dir | pv -b
and
$ pv -b| cp file /dir
but, all I would get was <0B> listed no matter how much of the file had been copied. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks, Mike

Here is a utility called Command Line Progress Bar which may help.

http://clpbar.sourceforge.net/