rsync

What is rsync?

A versatile Unix file synchronization and cloning tool, rsync is a robust open-source utility that enables seamless data transfer and mirroring between remote hosts. Leveraging delta encoding, rsync minimizes data transfer by only transmitting the changes between source and destination, making it an efficient choice for synchronizing large file sets. Supporting a wide range of use cases, rsync can copy or display directory contents, recursively sync files, and optionally utilize compression to optimize network bandwidth. Offering both standalone and daemon modes, rsync can be configured to listen on the default TCP port 873, serving files in the native rsync protocol or via a remote shell such as RSH or SSH. This versatility allows for seamless integration with a variety of remote systems, as the rsync client executable must be installed on both the local and remote hosts

Highlights

• Efficient file synchronization using delta encoding to minimize data transfer
• Supports copying or displaying directory contents, recursive file sync, and optional compression
• Operates in standalone mode or as a daemon, listening on the default TCP port 873
• Integrates with remote shell protocols like RSH or SSH for cross-system data mirroring