Introducing 'scp' command

The 'scp' command stands for Secure Copy Protocol and is used to securely transfer files between hosts on a network. It is based on 'ssh' (Secure Shell Protocol) and uses the same security techniques to transfer files between hosts.

Usage

The basic syntax for 'scp' command is as follows:

scp [options] [source] [destination]

• options: The command has various options to modify its behavior, such as '-r' for recursive copying, '-p' to preserve modification time, permissions, etc.
• source: Specifies the file or directory that you want to transfer to the remote system.
• destination: Specifies the location on the remote system where you want to transfer the file or directory.

Example

Suppose you want to transfer a file called 'pass.csv' from your local system to a remote system (with IP address '192.168.1.2') in the '/home' directory. The command would look something like this:

scp pass.csv user@192.168.1.2:/home

However, if you try to execute this command and receive a 'Permission denied' error message, it could mean that you don't have the necessary permissions to write to the remote directory.

In such cases, you would need to either use 'sudo' or 'ssh' to gain superuser access to the remote system or change the permissions of the remote directory using 'chmod' command.

Conclusion

In summary, 'scp' command provides a secure and efficient way to transfer files between hosts on a network. Its various options and flexibility make it a popular choice among system administrators and developers alike. However, it's important to ensure that you have the necessary permissions to access the remote location before using the command.