Synchronize Files and Folders with rsync

rsync used to synchronize files between source and destination. Main advantage of rsync is it only copies the modified files .

Important option of rsync.
-n, --dry-run  - Perform a dry run,simulation of what happens when the command really get executed
-a , --archive   archive mode; equals -rlptgoD (no -H,-A,-X)
                   -r, --recursive           recurse into directories

                   -l, --links                 copy symlinks as symlinks

                   -p, --perms               preserve permissions

                   -t, --times                 preserve modification times

                   -g, --group               preserve group

                   -o, --owner              preserve owner (super-user only)

                   -D                            Synchronize device files

-v, --verbose               increase verbosity

-a archive mode doesn't add the following option which we need to include separately if required.

                -H, --hard-links            preserve hard links

                -A, --acls                      preserve ACLs (implies -p)

                -X, --xattrs                   preserve extended attributes, SELinux context

Important

               While entering the source directory of rsync, it is important to remember that whether tailing slash(/) is present or not.

               If  tailing slash (/) is there only the content of the directory will be copied

with tailing slash (/) , content of etc folder will be copied

[root@server1 ~]# rsync -av /etc/ /tmp
...
yum/pluginconf.d/langpacks.conf.rpmnew
yum/pluginconf.d/product-id.conf
..
sent 86256 bytes  received 11501 bytes  195514.00 bytes/sec

With-out tailing slash (/) , etc folder will also be copied

[root@server1 ~]# rsync -av /etc /tmp
..
etc/yum/pluginconf.d/langpacks.conf
etc/yum/pluginconf.d/langpacks.conf.rpmnew
etc/yum/pluginconf.d/product-id.conf
...
sent 86256 bytes  received 11501 bytes  195514.00 bytes/sec