How to transfer a file over network

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1 Article purpose

The article aims to give some information useful to start with the scp Linux command.

2 Introduction

The scp^[1] copies files between hosts on a network. It uses ssh^[2] (remote login program) for data transfer, uses the same authentication and provides the same security as ssh.

This article focuses on the file transfer between a host PC and a STMicroelectronics board over a network connection.

3 Installation on your target

The scp is installed on the STMicroelectronics images via the package openssh.

4 Installation on your PC

The package openssh-client must be installed on your host PC to perform a file transfer over network with the scp.

On Ubuntu:

 sudo apt-get install openssh-client

5 Getting started

Your host PC and your board are connected to your local network through

The board IP address (<board ip address>) has been retrieved thanks to the ip Linux command line

Upload a file (<host file path>/<example.txt>) from your host PC to your board:

 scp <host file path>/<example.txt> root@<board ip address>:/<board file path>/

Example (assuming that <board ip address> is a.b.c.d):
 Copy the example.txt host PC file in the /home/root/ board directory
  echo "scp example: from host PC to board" > ./example.txt
  scp ./example.txt root@a.b.c.d:/home/root

 Check the result on the board 
  cat /home/root/example.txt 
 scp example

Download a file (/<board file path>/<example.txt>) from your board to your host PC:

 scp root@<board ip address>:/<board file path>/<example.txt> <host file path>/

Example (assuming that <board ip address> is a.b.c.d):
 Copy the example.txt board file in the current directory of the host PC
  echo "scp example: from board to host PC" > /home/root/example.txt
  scp root@a.b.c.d:/home/root/example.txt ./

 Check the result on the host PC
  cat ./example.txt
 scp example: from board to host PC

6 References

[1] scp - Linux man page

[2] ssh - Linux man page

[1]

[2]