How to use scp with xargs?

Question

I am trying to move very big file from one host to another host. Also the file names are too large so I have to use xargs. Also all the sub directories need to be copied also

I am using the below command in the source host current directory

find . -name "*" -type f -print0 | xargs -0 scp -r UserName@host:/path/to/destination

but it is throwing below error

scp: /path/to/destination: not a regular file

Why can't you just do scp -r . userame@host:/path/to/destination and avoid the find/xargs bit? — Stephen Harris, Aug 20 '16 at 13:09
@StephenHarris cause the file names are too big, so it is giving error as ksh: line 1: /usr/bin/scp: cannot execute [Argument list too long] — Anirban Nag 'tintinmj', Aug 20 '16 at 13:37
Did you do scp -r * instead of scp -r . to get that argument list too long error? Apart from scp, you could use tar cf - . | ssh user@somewhere tar xf - — ilkkachu, Aug 20 '16 at 14:16
find finds all files (and directories, etc.) by default; tests like -type, -mtime, -name, -user and -group then refine/restrict the search results by eliminating files (etc.) that don't satisfy the test. But the filename pattern * means "all"; it doesn't restrict or eliminate anything. Therefore, -name "*" has no effect in a find command. — Scott - Слава Україні, Aug 20 '16 at 20:42

score 3 · Answer 1 · answered Aug 20 '16 at 14:12

3

find . -type f -print0 | xargs -0 -I {} scp {} UserName@host:/path/to/destination

answered Aug 20 '16 at 14:12

user1700494

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How to use scp with xargs?

1 Answers1