#Linux Copy Force Overwrite How To Do This

Linux Copy Force Overwrite How To Do This

Copy SOURCE to DEST, or multiple SOURCE(s) to DIRECTORY. -suffixSUFFIX override the usual backup suffix -t, -target-directoryDIRECTORY copy all.This works fine if dir2 does not exist on server2, it creates a new directory called dir2 which contains everything from dir1 on server1.The problem comes when dir2 already exists on server2 (NOTE: I have no way of knowing this in advance or of doing a remove on dir2 on server2 beforehand) - what happens is I get a copy of dir1, called dir1, in dir2.I am sure there is something basic I am missing, but I just cannot seem to work it out.Okay, I have less than 10 rep and cannot be ar$ed to wait 8 hrs so here is what I got:Here is a script that works for me: #!/bin/shScp -prq server1:dir1/* server2:dir2/ >/dev/null 2>&1Still not sure how to do this in a single command or even if possible.Cheers sometimes just getting a fresh viewpoint can help point the way. To avoid this prompt and overwrite the file straightaway, you can use the force option -f. If you do not know whatвЂ™s write protection, please read about file permissions in Linux. You can further learn about mv command by browsing its man page. However, you are more likely to use only these mv commands examples I.

The control parameter specifies what version control method to use see version control for details.As a special case, cp -force -backup makes a backup of source when source and dest are the same, regular file.Like -backup, but does not accept a control argument the default control method is always used.When operating recursively, copy contents of special files, such as FIFOs and devices found in /dev. You can control exactly which attributes are copied with the -preserve option.Make a backup of each existing destination file that would otherwise be overwritten or removed. If the destination file already exists, don't alter its contents. This metadata includes security context data if you are running SELinux.Don't copy the file data, only create a file with the same attributes. When performing the copy, attempt to preserve as much of the original file structure, attributes, and associated metadata as possible. Cp -help cp -version Options -a,Same as -dR -preserve=ALL.

However, if a symbolic link is discovered during recursive traversal, it's copied as a symlink, not a regular file.Create hard links to files instead of copying them.Always follow symbolic links in source if source is a symlink, copy the file linked to rather than the symlink itself. However, it applies independently of -i/ -interactive neither option cancels the effect of the other.Prompt before overwrite (overrides a previous -n option).Follow symlinks specified on the command line, but preserve discovered links.If one of the arguments on the command line is a symbolic link, copy the referenced file, not the link itself. This option has no effect if the -n/ -no-clobber option is used. Same as ' -no-dereference -preserve=links'.If an existing destination file cannot be opened, remove it and try again. However, this option is available for special, expert use cases.Copy symbolic links themselves, rather than the files they refer to, and preserve hard links between source files in the copies.

Attributes are:Preserve file mode bits (as set with chmod), and any ACLs.Preserve owner and group (as set with chown). Existing symlinks encountered in the destination may still be followed, however.Same as -preserve=mode,ownership,timestamps.Preserve the specified attributes, separated by a comma. This option cannot be specified with -b/ -backup, because backups are only created when a file would be overwritten.Never follow symbolic links in source copy symlinks as symlinks. If -i/ -interactive was previously specified, this option overrides it.

The resulting copy will share the same bytes on disk as the original file, until the copy is modified. Same as specifying all the above attributes individually, with the exception that failing to copy context or xattr will not give an exit status of failure.If not specified, the default value of attr_list is ' mode,ownership,timestamps'.Create missing parent directories in the destination, if necessary, when copying to target directory, according to the pathname specified in source.For instance, ' cp -parents dir2/dir3/file dir1' creates the destination file ' dir1/dir2/dir3/file', even if dir2 and dir3 do not presently exist under dir1.Perform an optimized CoW ('copy-on-write') clone, if the destination filesystem supports it. With -L or -H, this option can potentially copy symbolic links as hard links.Preserve SELinux security context of source files, or fail with verbose diagnostics.Preserve extended attributes of source files, or fail with verbose diagnostics.Preserve all of the above.

This is the default.For each sufficiently long sequence of zero bytes in the source, attempt to make a sparse hole in the destination, even if the input file is not sparse. If destination exists and is a non-regular file, do not attempt to make it sparse. By default, cp detects sparse files and creates sparse destination files as well.The when parameter defines what cp should do when a source file is detected to be sparse:If the source is sparse, attempt to make the destination sparse.

That is the behavior selected by -sparse=auto. This includes networked drives, another partition вЂ” any file that resides on a filesystem with a different mount point.The directory representing the mount point itself is copied, but not traversed.If -v is specified, you will see exactly which files are skipped.By default, sparse source files are detected by a crude heuristic and the corresponding destination file is made sparse as well. If cp tries to cross the boundary to another filesystem, those files are skipped. All source files must be absolute pathnames starting with a slash, unless the destination files are in the current directory.Copy only when the source file is newer than the destination file or when the destination file is missing.Verbose mode explain what is being done.Only operate on the filesystem where the command was executed. In these cases, this option should be used.Remove any trailing slashes from each source argument.Make symbolic links instead of copying the files themselves. Some special files, such as a swap file, must never be sparse.

Both files now exist in your working directory.The source and destination files may also reside in different directories. Here, picture.jpg is the source of the copy operation, and picture-02.jpg is the destination. You would run the command: cp picture.jpg picture-02.jpg.and the file is copied. ExamplesLet's say you have a file named picture.jpg in your working directory, and you want to make a copy of it called picture-02.jpg. The possible values of control or VERSION_CONTROL are: none, offNever make backups (even if -backup is given).Numbered if numbered backups exist, simple otherwise.As a special case, cp makes a backup of source when the force and backup options are given and source and destination are the same name for an existing, regular file.

The destination file is also named picture.jpg.