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Linux : SFTP command to transfer transfer files

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Hi Friends,

SFTP stands for secure File Transfer Protocol, which help to transfer files over network in a secure / encrypted fashion. It is mainly used when you have to upload or download a file to a remote machine on network. It is similar to SCP, however it gives you more options to navigate ie cd , mkdir , changing file permission, ls etc while working with file.

$ sftp 1.244.344.444
sftp >

Now you are connected to remote server and do ls and list remote file (can use other commands as well)
Append “l” in front of command to list local files
eg. $ lls => local list

$lpwd => local present working directory
$lmkdir => make directory in local box

$ get filename => will download from remote to local directory
$ put filename => will upload from local to remote directory

Detailed Example :

1. How to Connect to SFTP

By default, same SSH protocol is used to authenticate and establish a SFTP connection. To start an SFTP session, enter the username and remote hostname or IP address at the command prompt. Once authentication successful, you will see a shell with an sftp> prompt.

[root@tecmint ~]# sftp tecmint@27.48.137.6

Connecting to 27.48.137.6...
tecmint@27.48.137.6's password:
sftp>

2. Getting Help

Once, you in the sftp prompt, check the available commands by typing ‘?‘ or ‘help‘ at command prompt.

sftp> ?
Available commands:
cd path                       Change remote directory to 'path'
lcd path                      Change local directory to 'path'
chgrp grp path                Change group of file 'path' to 'grp'
chmod mode path               Change permissions of file 'path' to 'mode'
chown own path                Change owner of file 'path' to 'own'
help                          Display this help text
get remote-path [local-path]  Download file
lls [ls-options [path]]       Display local directory listing
ln oldpath newpath            Symlink remote file
lmkdir path                   Create local directory
lpwd                          Print local working directory
ls [path]                     Display remote directory listing
lumask umask                  Set local umask to 'umask'
mkdir path                    Create remote directory
put local-path [remote-path]  Upload file
pwd                           Display remote working directory
exit                          Quit sftp
quit                          Quit sftp
rename oldpath newpath        Rename remote file
rmdir path                    Remove remote directory
rm path                       Delete remote file
symlink oldpath newpath       Symlink remote file
version                       Show SFTP version
!command                      Execute 'command' in local shell
!                             Escape to local shell
?                             Synonym for help

3. Check Present Working Directory

The command ‘lpwd‘ is used to check the Local present working directory, whereas ‘pwd‘ command is used to check Remote working directory.

sftp> lpwd
Local working directory: /
sftp> pwd
Remote working directory: /tecmint/
  1. lpwd – print the current directory on your system
  2. pwd – print the current directory on the ftp server

4. Listing Files

Listing files and directories in local as well as remote system.

On Remote
sftp> ls
On Local
sftp> lls

5. Upload File

Put single or multiple files in remote system.

sftp> put local.profile
Uploading local.profile to /tecmint/local.profile

6. Upload Mutiple Files

Putting multiple files on in remote system.

sftp> mput *.xls

6. Download Files

Getting single or multiple files in local system.

sftp> get SettlementReport_1-10th.xls
Fetching /tecmint/SettlementReport_1-10th.xls to SettlementReport_1-10th.xls

Get multiple files on a local system.

sftp> mget *.xls

Note: As we can see by default with get command download file in local system with same name. We can download remote file with different name specifying the name at the end. (This applies only while downloading single file).

7. Switching Directories

Switching from one directory to another directory in local and remote locations.

On Remote
sftp> cd test
sftp>
On Local
sftp> lcd Documents

8. Create Directories

Creating new directories on local and remote locations.

sftp> mkdir test
sftp> lmkdir Documents

9. Remove Directories

Remove directory or file in remote system.

sftp> rm Report.xls
sftp> rmdir sub1

Note: To remove/delete any directory from remote location, the directory must be empty.

10. Exist sFTP Shell

The ‘!‘ command drop us in local shell from where we can execute Linux commands. Type ‘exit‘ command where we can see sftp> prompt return.

sftp> !

[root@sftp ~]# exit
Shell exited with status 1
sftp>
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