Simplified manual page for scp
(Unix command line)

SYNOPSIS:

scp [-p] [-v] [-r] [[username@]host:]file ... [[username@]host:]file_or_dir

Copies files over the network securely; uses ssh for data transfer, using the same authentication and providing the same security as ssh.

1. ``Putting'' a single file

ucsu>  scp  mydata.dat  newton.colorado.edu:NewData.txt

copy file ``mydata.dat'' from your current computer/directory to your home directory on newton.colorado.edu,
naming the copy on newton ``NewData.txt''.

ucsu>  scp  mydata.dat  newton.colorado.edu:

same thing, but the copied file on newton is named the same as the original (mydata.dat) by default

ucsu>  scp  mydata.dat  amath:/www/courses/8100/2005Spr/lab2.dat

copy file to a specific directory on amath, giving the file a new name there

goldhill.ucar.edu>  scp  mydata.dat  smithjz@amath.colorado.edu:ncar.dat

copy file from your account on goldhill to your home directory on amath,
where your username is different (smithjz)

2. ``Getting'' a single file

ucsu>  scp  newton:mydata.dat  ./mydata.dat

copies file ``mydata.dat'' from the your home directory on newton to
your current working directory on ucsu

ucsu>  scp  newton:mydata.dat  ./

same thing -- it is enough just to indicate the directory (``./'' = my current directory), and
the copied file will be named the same as the original, by default

ucsu>  scp  smithjz@newton.colorado.edu:research/MYC/mydata.dat  ./

gets the file from my ``research/MYC'' subdirectory (relative to smithjz's home directory on newton)

3. ``Putting'' an entire directory

ucsu>  scp -r  research  newton:MyRsrch/09/

copy directory ``research'' recursively (i.e., the directory and all its contents) from ucsu
into a new directory ``MyRsrch/09/'' in your home directory on newton
(the directory ``MyRsrch'' must already exist).
Sometimes a better alternative is to create a tar file, then copy over
only that single tar file and unpack it on the remote host.

4. ``Getting'' an entire directory

ucsu>  scp -r  smithj@euclid.ucla.edu:MyRsrch/09 ./r9/

copy directory ``MyRsrch/09/'' recursively (i.e., the directory and all its contents) from
euclid.ucla.edu (where you are "smithj" into a new directory ``r9/'' in your current working directory on ucsu.
Sometimes a better alternative is to ssh to the remote computer, bundle the
files you want into a single tar file, scp that file over, and unpack it where you want the files.

-r    This option specifies that scp should copy directories recursively -- copies all the files & subdirectories,
plus the contents of the subdirectories themselves, etc. The operation does not follow symbolic links.

-p    Tells scp to preserve file attributes and timestamps.

-v    Makes scp verbose.

full manual page for scp

NAME
     scp - secure copy (remote file copy program)

SYNOPSIS
     scp  [-pqrvBC46] [-F ssh_config] [-S program] [-P  port]
	[-c cipher]  [-i identity_file]  [-o ssh_option]
	[[user@]host1:]file1 [...]  [[user@]host2:]file2

DESCRIPTION
     for data transfer, and uses the same authentication and pro-
     vides the same security as ssh(1).  Unlike rcp(1), scp  will
     ask  for  passwords  or  passphrases  if they are needed for
     authentication.

     Any file name may contain a host and user  specification  to
     indicate  that  the  file is to be copied to/from that host.
     Copies between two remote hosts are permitted.

     The options are as follows:

     -c cipher
          Selects the cipher  to  use  for  encrypting  the  data
          transfer.  This option is directly passed to ssh(1).

     -i identity_file
          Selects the file from which the identity (private  key)
          for   RSA  authentication  is  read.   This  option  is
          directly passed to ssh(1).

     -p   Preserves modification times, access times,  and  modes
          from the original file.

     -r   Recursively copy entire directories.

     -v   Verbose mode.  Causes scp and ssh(1) to print debugging
          messages  about  their  progress.   This  is helpful in
          debugging connection, authentication, and configuration
          problems.

     -B   Selects batch mode (prevents asking  for  passwords  or
          passphrases).

     -q   Disables the progress meter.

     -C   Compression enable.  Passes the -C flag  to  ssh(1)  to
          enable compression.

     -F ssh_config
          Specifies an alternative  per-user  configuration  file
          for ssh.  This option is directly passed to ssh(1).

     -P port
          Specifies the port to connect to on  the  remote  host.
          Note  that  this  option is written with a capital `P',
          because -p is already reserved for preserving the times
          and modes of the file in rcp(1).

     -S program
          Name of program to use for  the  encrypted  connection.
          The program must understand ssh(1) options.

     -o ssh_option
          Can be used to pass options to ssh in the  format  used
          in   ssh_config(5).   This  is  useful  for  specifying
          options for which there is no separate scp command-line
          flag.  For example, forcing the use of protocol version
          1 is specified using scp -oProtocol=1.

     -4   Forces scp to use IPv4 addresses only.

     -6   Forces scp to use IPv6 addresses only.