Linux for Beginners: How to Transfer Files Between Linux Machines

Transferring files between Linux machines can seem daunting for beginners, but it's actually a simple process. In this post, we'll go over some easy ways to transfer files between Linux machines.

Method 1: SCP

SCP, or Secure Copy, is a command-line tool that allows you to securely transfer files between Linux machines. To transfer a file from one machine to another using SCP, simply run the following command:

scp /path/to/local/file username@remotehost:/path/to/remote/directory

Replace /path/to/local/file with the local file you want to transfer, username with your remote machine's username, remotehost with your remote machine's IP address or hostname, and /path/to/remote/directory with the remote directory you want to transfer the file to.

For example, to transfer a file named example.txt from your local machine to a remote machine with IP address 192.168.1.100 and username user, run the following command:

scp /path/to/example.txt user@192.168.1.100:/home/user/

Method 2: FTP

FTP, or File Transfer Protocol, is another way to transfer files between Linux machines. To transfer files using FTP, you'll need to set up an FTP server on the remote machine and an FTP client on the local machine.

One popular FTP server for Linux is vsftpd. To install vsftpd on Ubuntu, run the following command:

sudo apt-get install vsftpd

Once vsftpd is installed, you can use an FTP client like FileZilla to connect to the remote machine and transfer files.

1. Download and install FileZilla on your local machine.

2. Open FileZilla and click on the "File" menu at the top left of the window.

3. Click on "Site Manager" in the menu that appears.

4. Click on the "New Site" button in the Site Manager window.

5. In the "Host" field, enter the IP address or hostname of the remote machine.

6. In the "Port" field, enter the port number for the FTP server on the remote machine. The default port for FTP is 21.

7. In the "Protocol" field, select "FTP - File Transfer Protocol."

8. In the "Encryption" field, select "Use plain FTP."

9. In the "Logon Type" field, select "Normal."

10. In the "User" and "Password" fields, enter the username and password for the remote machine.

11. Click on "Connect" to connect to the remote machine.

12. Once connected, you'll see the remote machine's file system on the right-hand side of the FileZilla window. Use the left-hand side of the window to navigate to the local file you want to transfer.

13. Drag and drop the file from the local file system to the remote file system to transfer the file.

That's it! You've now successfully transferred a file from your local machine to a remote machine using FileZilla.

Method 3: Samba

Samba is a software suite that allows you to share files and printers between Linux and Windows machines. To transfer files between Linux machines using Samba, you'll need to set up a Samba server on the remote machine and a Samba client on the local machine.

To install Samba on Ubuntu, run the following command:

sudo apt-get install samba

Once Samba is installed, you can create a shared folder on the remote machine and then access it from the local machine using the Samba client.

To create a shared folder on the remote machine, you'll need to edit the Samba configuration file. Open the file /etc/samba/smb.conf using a text editor and add the following lines at the end of the file:

luaCopy code[shared_folder]
path = /path/to/folder
read only = no

Replace "shared_folder" with a name for your shared folder, "/path/to/folder" with the path to the folder you want to share, and "read only = no" with "read only = yes" if you want to make the folder read-only.

Save the changes to the file and then restart the Samba service by running the following command:

Copy codesudo systemctl restart smbd

On the local machine, you can access the shared folder using the Samba client. Open the file manager and select "Connect to Server" from the menu. In the "Server Address" field, enter the IP address of the remote machine followed by the name of the shared folder, like this:

arduinoCopy codesmb://192.168.1.100/shared_folder

Replace "192.168.1.100" with the IP address of the remote machine and "shared_folder" with the name of the shared folder you created. Click "Connect" and then enter the username and password for the remote machine when prompted. You should now be able to access the shared folder and transfer files to and from it.

Transferring files between Linux machines doesn't have to be complicated. By using tools like SCP, FTP, and Samba, you can easily transfer files between machines. Experiment with these methods and see which one works best for your needs. Good luck and happy transferring!