Command to copy and update files from a folder to another folder

[Website]

I want to add a cron job to copy the entire server files (whatever i see in ftp) to a folder in the same server but then the next day, just update the files which was updated since the last time.

So its not gonna copy all the files everyday but its gonna check the "last edited day" and update the copy based on that. So it will take lot less time than getting an entire copy of the same server again.

Can somebody help me about this please?

[Roxoff]

Check the man page for cp. You can use the -u (--update) flag to copy only newer files to the destination. I think this will do what you're asking for.

[Website]

Check the man page for cp. You can use the -u (--update) flag to copy only newer files to the destination. I think this will do what you're asking for.

Thank you. So if you mean i should copy the entire server to the folder for the first time and then just cron job the "Update" command, it will be ok?

Can you give me an example of an update command? from one folder to another?

[Roxoff]

Yes, it will be OK.

It's a standard copy. Use 'cp -u [source] [dest]', as the man page tells you in the link I posted.

[xiaoxue]

any idea wat copy is for comparing?

[Website]

well for me to use the -u i need to copy the entire / in the /backups folder and when enter below code i get the below error
[root@merkez ~]# cp / /root/backups
cp: omitting directory `/'


What should i do?

[jedlickaj]

It is omitting the / because it is a directory. To copy a directory you need the -r option so that it copies everything recursively.


I cannot test the command because I do not have a computer I can use right now to copy the entire root directory somewhere, however, I think your command might also cause a loop since /root/backups is part of the / directory structure. That means you will be trying to copy /root/backups into /root/backups which will cause you a problem.

[Website]

It is omitting the / because it is a directory. To copy a directory you need the -r option so that it copies everything recursively.


I cannot test the command because I do not have a computer I can use right now to copy the entire root directory somewhere, however, I think your command might also cause a loop since /root/backups is part of the / directory structure. That means you will be trying to copy /root/backups into /root/backups which will cause you a problem.

So what can i do?
How can i copy all the files to /root/backups ?

[elija]

Another option is rsync which has the ability to exclude files. Have a look through the man page (man rsync).

[Website]

Another option is rsync which has the ability to exclude files. Have a look through the man page (man rsync).

Which one i should install
rsyncmin 1.146-54
or
Syncmin 1.0

and what is the difference anyways?