The simplest way to copy directories recursively with SCP is by using the -r (recursive) flag. This works similarly to the recursive flag in commands like cp or rsync.

scp -r /local/directory user@remotehost:/remote/directory

For large directories, consider these optimizations:

scp -rpC /local/large_dir user@remote:/backup/

Where:

• -p preserves modification times
• -C enables compression

For better performance with many small files:

tar czf - /local/directory | ssh user@remote "tar xzf - -C /remote/directory"

To maintain file attributes during recursive copy:

scp -rp /local/dir user@remote:/remote/

Note that preserving ownership (-o) typically requires root privileges.

Hidden Files: SCP with -r will copy hidden files (starting with .) by default.

Symlinks: Use -L to follow symbolic links:

scp -rL /local/linked_dir user@remote:/remote/

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The scp (Secure Copy Protocol) command is a powerful tool for transferring files between hosts over SSH. While many users know it for single-file transfers, its recursive directory copying feature is equally important for efficient file management.

To copy an entire directory with all its contents, use the -r (recursive) flag:

scp -r /local/directory user@remotehost:/remote/directory

Here are some common scenarios with detailed commands:

Copying Local Directory to Remote Server

scp -r ~/projects/my_app user@example.com:/home/user/applications/

Copying Remote Directory to Local Machine

scp -r user@example.com:/var/logs/ /local/backup/

Preserving File Attributes

For maintaining original timestamps and permissions:

scp -rp ~/data user@backup-server:/storage/

Combine recursive copy with other useful flags:

scp -rP 2222 -C ~/large_dir user@alt-host:/destination/

This command uses port 2222 (-P) and compression (-C).

When dealing with recursive copies, you might encounter:

• Permission errors (use sudo or check remote permissions)
• Hidden files not copying (ensure your command includes dotfiles)
• Connection timeouts (try -o ConnectTimeout=30)

For more advanced recursive transfers, consider rsync:

rsync -avz -e ssh /local/dir/ user@remote:/remote/dir/

This provides better progress tracking and partial transfer resumption.