File transfer to/from Arrhenius using `scp`¶

There are multiple ways to transfer data to/from Arrhenius.

Here, we show how to transfer files and folders using a command-line tool called scp, which is a secure file transfer tool that works under Linux, Mac and Windows.

Copy a file from your local computer to Arrhenius
Copy a file from Arrhenius to your local computer
Copy a folder from your local computer to Arrhenius
Copy a folder from Arrhenius to your local computer

Introduction¶

Info

Terminal transfer tools are handy when you are already working in the terminal and can sometimes be superior to Graphical tools.
- Only tool type for scripting
- No switching applications
- Tab completion can make finding files faster
- If you work on servers or over ssh you might not be able to use a graphical user interface (GUI).

scp has the similar arguments as for the linux copy function cp.
sftp is more versatile with more file management capabilities. Optional lesson
rsync is perfect for syncing and have many capabilities. Optional lesson
All are considered secure!

Pros

Simple
One-line command
Use cases
- copy just a file
- copy just a specific directory (with sub-directories).

When not to use

When needing several one-line commands
- requires credentials every time
When looking to do more than a basic file transfer, SCP falls short.
Transfers that are interrupted you have to restart the entire transfer.
A file with the same name in the same directory is transferred, will be overwritten.

Risk of overwriting files

There is no warning if a file is about to be overwritten.
- There is no scp -i ... as for rm -i that asks if you really want to remove the file.
rsync may be a better tool if you want to sync existing content.

Copy a file from local to Arrhenius¶

flowchart LR
  local_computer[Your local computer. Run scp from here]
  arrhenius[Arrhenius]

  local_computer --> |scp| arrhenius

Copy a file from a local computer to a Arrhenius home folder.

On your local computer, do:

scp [file_name] [user_name]@login.hpc.arrhenius.naiss.se:/home/[user_name]/

For example:

scp my_file.txt svante@login.hpc.arrhenius.naiss.se:/home/svante/

Copy a file from Arrhenius to local¶

flowchart LR
  local_computer[Your local computer. Run scp from here]
  arrhenius[Arrhenius]

  arrhenius --> |scp| local_computer

Copy a file from Arrhenius to your local computer.

On your local computer, do:

scp [user_name]@login.hpc.arrhenius.naiss.se:/home/[user_name]/[file_name] [local_folder_destination]

For example:

scp svante@login.hpc.arrhenius.naiss.se:/home/svante/my_file.txt .

Where . means 'the folder where I am now'.

Copy a folder from local to Arrhenius¶

flowchart LR
  local_computer[Your local computer. Run scp from here]
  arrhenius[Arrhenius]

  local_computer --> |scp| arrhenius

Copy a folder from a local computer to a Arrhenius home folder.

On your local computer, do:

scp -r [folder_name] [user_name]@login.hpc.arrhenius.naiss.se:/home/[user_name]/

For example:

scp -r my_folder svante@login.hpc.arrhenius.naiss.se:/home/svante/

The -r flag is used to copy a folder and all of its subfolders.

Copy a folder from Arrhenius to local¶

flowchart LR
  local_computer[Your local computer. Run scp from here]
  arrhenius[Arrhenius]

  arrhenius --> |scp| local_computer

Copy a folder from Arrhenius to your local computer.

On your local computer, do:

scp - [user_name]@login.hpc.arrhenius.naiss.se:/home/[user_name]/[folder_name] [local_folder_destination]

For example:

scp -r svante@login.hpc.arrhenius.naiss.se:/home/svante/my_folder .

Where . means 'the folder where I am now'.

Links¶

scp homepage

File transfer to/from Arrhenius using scp¶

Introduction¶

Copy a file from local to Arrhenius¶

Copy a file from Arrhenius to local¶

Copy a folder from local to Arrhenius¶

Copy a folder from Arrhenius to local¶

Links¶

File transfer to/from Arrhenius using `scp`¶