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How to extract archives with SSH?
Rapyd Team avatar
Written by Rapyd Team
Updated over a year ago

The ability to manage files and folders is critical when dealing with web hosting. Archiving is an essential part of this process, allowing you to save space, transport multiple files easily, or restore backups. While many are acquainted with extracting archives using graphical software, the SSH terminal offers a robust and efficient way to achieve the same. This guide aims to familiarize you with extracting archives using SSH.

Pre-requisites

  • SSH access to your server.

  • Basic familiarity with command-line operations.

  • A website hosted with Rapyd Hosting to ensure top-notch performance and security.

Understanding Archives and SSH:

Before diving into the extraction process, let's briefly touch on the basics:

  • SSH (Secure Shell): A cryptographic network protocol that allows you to securely access and manage servers over an unsecured network.

  • Archive: A single file that comprises multiple files and/or folders. Common formats include .tar, .zip, and .gz.

Steps to Extract Archives Using SSH:

1. Access Your Server via SSH

Use your preferred SSH client to connect to your server. For instance:

ssh username@your_server_ip

2. Navigate to the Directory:

Change to the directory where your archive is located using the cd command:

cd /path/to/your/directory/

3. Extracting Different Archive Types

Depending on your archive type, the extraction method varies:

  • .tar File

tar -xvf filename.tar

  • .tar.gz or .tgz File

tar -xzvf filename.tar.gz

  • .zip File

Then, extract the .zip file:

unzip filename.zip

Additional Tips:

  • If you're unsure about the contents of an archive, use the tar -tf filename.tar.gz or unzip -l filename.zip commands to list the contents without extracting them.

  • Always extract archives in a safe directory to avoid overwriting existing files unintentionally.

  • After extraction, verify the extracted files to ensure the process was successful and complete.

Conclusion:

SSH offers a powerful and efficient way to extract archives on your server. With a few commands, you can manage your files swiftly. Hosting with Rapyd ensures that, along with the power of SSH, you also enjoy a high-performance and ultra-responsive website experience.

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