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All About RCP Windows command

The Windows RCP (Remote Copy Protocol) command is a utility used to copy files between a Windows computer and a remote system. It allows users to transfer files securely over a network using the command-line interface. The RCP command syntax includes the source and destination file paths, along with options for preserving file attributes, quiet mode, and more. By mastering the RCP command, users can efficiently transfer files between systems without the need for a graphical user interface.

Terminal window
rcp [options] source_file destination_file
OptionDescription
-pPreserves file modification time
-rRecursively copies directories
-vVerbose output
-qQuiet mode (no output)
-kKeep partially copied files
ParameterDescription
source_fileFile to be copied from
destination_fileDestination file or directory path
Terminal window
rcp C:\Users\User1\file.txt RemoteHost:C:\destination\

Copies the file “file.txt” from the local machine to a directory on the remote host.

Terminal window
rcp -r C:\Users\User1\folder RemoteHost:C:\destination\

Recursively copies the entire directory “folder” from the local machine to a directory on the remote host.

Copy a File with a Different Name on the Remote Host

Section titled “Copy a File with a Different Name on the Remote Host”
Terminal window
rcp C:\Users\User1\file.txt RemoteHost:C:\destination\newfile.txt

Copies the file “file.txt” from the local machine to the remote host, renaming it as “newfile.txt” in the destination directory.

Copy a File from a Remote Host to the Local Machine

Section titled “Copy a File from a Remote Host to the Local Machine”
Terminal window
rcp RemoteHost:C:\source\file.txt C:\Users\User1\

Copies the file “file.txt” from the remote host to the local machine in the specified directory.

Terminal window
rcp -v C:\Users\User1\file.txt RemoteHost:C:\destination\

Copies the file “file.txt” to the remote host while displaying the progress of the transfer.

Terminal window
rcp -o -t 60 C:\Users\User1\file.txt RemoteHost:C:\destination\

Sets a timeout of 60 seconds for the file transfer to complete, after which it will stop the operation.

To use the rcp command in Windows, execute the following command:

Terminal window
rcp --option <value>

How can I copy a file from a remote system using rcp in Windows?

Section titled “How can I copy a file from a remote system using rcp in Windows?”

To copy a file from a remote system using rcp in Windows, use the following command:

Terminal window
rcp username@remote_host:remote_file local_file

How can I copy a directory with its contents using rcp in Windows?

Section titled “How can I copy a directory with its contents using rcp in Windows?”

To copy a directory with its contents using rcp in Windows, you can use the following command:

Terminal window
rcp -r username@remote_host:remote_directory local_directory

How do I specify a different port for the rcp command in Windows?

Section titled “How do I specify a different port for the rcp command in Windows?”

To specify a different port for the rcp command in Windows, use the following command format:

Terminal window
rcp -p <port_number> username@remote_host:remote_file local_file

How can I force overwrite existing files when using rcp in Windows?

Section titled “How can I force overwrite existing files when using rcp in Windows?”

To force overwrite existing files when using rcp in Windows, you can use the following command with the “-f” option:

Terminal window
rcp -f username@remote_host:remote_file local_file

How do I display the progress of the file transfer with rcp in Windows?

Section titled “How do I display the progress of the file transfer with rcp in Windows?”

To display the progress of the file transfer with rcp in Windows, add the “-v” option to the command:

Terminal window
rcp -v username@remote_host:remote_file local_file

How can I preserve the file permissions when copying files with rcp in Windows?

Section titled “How can I preserve the file permissions when copying files with rcp in Windows?”

To preserve the file permissions when copying files with rcp in Windows, use the “-p” option in the command:

Terminal window
rcp -p username@remote_host:remote_file local_file

How do I securely transfer files using rcp in Windows?

Section titled “How do I securely transfer files using rcp in Windows?”

To securely transfer files using rcp in Windows, consider using SSH (Secure Shell) for encryption. You can use the following command format with SSH:

Terminal window
rcp -e ssh username@remote_host:remote_file local_file
  1. Copy files between a local and a remote machine.
  2. Transfer files securely over a network.
  3. Synchronize files and directories between two systems.
  4. Backup and restore files between different locations.
  5. Transfer files between Windows and Unix-based systems.