Copy Files / Folders & Preserve Data

carlosinfl · 12-18-2010, 05:03 PM

Can someone please help me with a command or way to copy a very large parent folder /data from 'server_old' to 'server_new' while preserving the data ownership (UID/GID) and file permissions? I tried running:

Code:

scp -rp /data/* root@server_new:/data/

Sadly the command above is not working for me and only copying everything over as root:root and not james:finance and other sub folders as james

ersonal. Is there a way to use tar, scp, rsync, or anything that will copy the permissions exactly?

j1alu · 12-18-2010, 05:22 PM

i use:
rsync -auv

carlosinfl · 12-18-2010, 05:29 PM

Code:

rsync -auv /data/* root@server_new:/data/

Is that correct?

j1alu · 12-18-2010, 05:31 PM

That is what i would do, so i would say yes.
But rsync is always good for a surprise.

jschiwal · 12-18-2010, 07:48 PM

If you use public key authentication for ssh on the new server, you could use tar as well

tar -C /data/ -cf - | ssh root@newserver 'tar -C /data/ -xf -'

carlosinfl · 12-19-2010, 10:27 AM

How come nobody's command has the '-p' switch and according to the 'man' page I should use it to preserve ownership.

honeybadger · 12-19-2010, 11:57 AM

cp has the -p switch. I do not think rsync has that switch. I mean if you are syncing the files then ownership is automatically taken care of.

carlosinfl · 12-19-2010, 12:00 PM

What about 'tar' over 'ssh'? Does that require the -p switch of is that automatically handled?

jschiwal · 12-23-2010, 07:46 AM

The ownership and permissions should be preserved using tar if the UID exists on the remote backup host.
One thing nice about tar is you can use the tee command to save a tar backup as well, killing two birds with one stone. Handy if you have an external HD to backup to.

networking.dept · 12-31-2010, 12:13 PM

Hello,

rysnc is always better to use.

You can use rsync as follows,

rsync -avzogpA

o and g for preserve user and group Ownership

A for Preserve ACLs if you have

Hope this helps