Quick Answer
rsync synchronizes directories locally or over SSH, transferring only changed blocks after the initial run. The wrong flag combination silently deletes destination files with `--delete`, skips permission preservation without `-a`, or overwrites production data without a dry-run preview. Remote backups need `-e ssh`, trailing slashes change whether the directory itself or its contents are copied, and exclude patterns must be repeated per rule or loaded from a file. This builder takes source and destination paths, toggles archive mode, compression, delete, partial resume, dry-run, and SSH transport, then assembles the full command in a live preview panel. Add comma-separated exclude patterns for `*.log`, `.git`, or `node_modules` without memorizing flag order. Click Copy Command to paste into your terminal. Always enable dry-run before `--delete` on a mirror job — deleted files do not come back. Runs in your browser with no account. Pair with the rsync remote backup snippet for cron scheduling and SSH key setup.
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What does rsync -avz do?
The -a flag enables archive mode (preserves permissions, timestamps, symlinks, and directory structure). The -v flag shows verbose output so you can see which files are transferred. The -z flag compresses data during transfer to save bandwidth. Together they form the most common rsync invocation for backups.
How do I rsync to a remote server over SSH?
Use the format: rsync -avz -e ssh /local/path/ user@host:/remote/path/. The -e ssh flag tells rsync to use SSH as the transport. Make sure SSH key authentication is set up to avoid password prompts in automated scripts.
What does --delete do in rsync?
The --delete flag removes files on the destination that no longer exist in the source. This makes the destination an exact mirror. Always run with --dry-run first to preview deletions before they happen — deleted files cannot be recovered.
How do I exclude files from rsync?
Use --exclude for each pattern: rsync -av --exclude="*.log" --exclude=".git" /src/ /dest/. Patterns support wildcards. For complex exclusions, use --exclude-from=file.txt with one pattern per line.
intermediate · rsync
Rsync Remote Backup
A local-only backup dies with the machine. Push an incremental, resumable copy to a remote server with rsync over SSH — script with exclude patterns, dry-run, and cron scheduling.
beginner · backup
Automated File Backup
Accidental deletion or disk failure permanently destroys data with no undo on Linux. Timestamps each cp -r run with a date string so backups never overwrite each other.