Downloading Files With SSH in Terminal
SSH, or secure shell, is a Unix shell used for secure communication between two networked computers. You may wish to securely download files from a remote system after establishing an SSH session. Secure file transfer within SSH is accomplished by two primary commands: scp and sftp, secure versions of the copy and file transfer commands.
SSH
To begin an SSH session, open a terminal application to gain access to a command line prompt. The precise method of SSH authentication may simply be a password or public-private key cryptography. See your system administrator for information about your particular system. Enter an SSH session using either the "ssh" or "slogin" command, passing the remote system name as input. Use the "-l" flag to specify a different user name on the remote system.
ssh
Scp Command
The "scp" command is a secure version of the Unix copy command "cp." Once you establish an SSH session with the remote machine, locate the file you wish to copy. The "scp" command is a better option if you have only a few files to transfer. The "-p" flag preserved the file modification and access times.
To copy from the remote machine: scp -p remotemachine:/myfiles/myfile.txt x
To copy to the remote machine: scp -p myfile.txt remotemachine:/myfiles/
Sftp Command
File transfer protocol, or FTP, is the standard command for transferring files between computer systems. The "sftp" command is a secure version of "ftp" within a SSH session. To begin an "sftp" session:
sftp
To get files from the remote server, execute the "get" command at the sftp prompt:
sftp> get myfile.txt
To put files to the remote server, execute the "put" command: sftp> put myfile.txt
Security
Normal functions do not encrypt data that is sent over network connections. A password entered during a normal ftp session is sent in plain text. This can be especially problematic with critical systems. Using ssh, scp and sftp can prevent an intruder from easily gaining your password and keep both your system and the remote system safe.
References
Writer Bio
Chris Daniels covers advances in nutrition and fitness online. Daniels has numerous certifications and degrees covering human health, nutritional requirements and sports performance. An avid cyclist, weightlifter and swimmer, Daniels has experienced the journey of fitness in the role of both an athlete and coach.
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