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

Archiving files and directories is a routine task for many server administrators and web developers. SSH, a secure protocol for remote server access, offers powerful utilities for this purpose. In this guide, we'll delve into how to create archives using SSH, offering you a practical and efficient way to manage your data.

Archiving is essential for backups, transferring, or storing files in a compact manner. For those using Rapyd Hosting's secure and high-performance servers, mastering archiving via SSH will help maintain organized and efficient storage.

Introduction to SSH and Archiving

  • SSH, or Secure Shell, is a cryptographic network protocol utilized for operating network services securely.

  • Understand the relevance of archiving files and how SSH aids this process.

Understanding Tar Command: The Basics:

  • tar, short for tape archive, is a common command used in UNIX-based systems for archiving.

  • Basic syntax: tar [options] [archive-name] [file or directory to be archived].

Creating Archives: Practical Examples:

  • Archiving a Single File: tar -cvf archive_name.tar file_name

  • Archiving Multiple Files: tar -cvf archive_name.tar file1 file2 file3

  • Archiving Directories: tar -cvf archive_name.tar directory_name/

Compressing Archives for Space Efficiency:

  • Use gzip for compression: tar -czvf archive_name.tar.gz directory_name/

  • Use bzip2 for higher compression ratios (at the cost of speed): tar -cjvf archive_name.tar.bz2 directory_name/

Tips and Tricks for Advanced Archiving:

  • Exclude Files: To skip specific files: tar -cvf archive_name.tar directory_name/ --exclude=directory_name/excluded_file

  • List Archive Contents: View what's inside an archive without extracting: tar -tvf archive_name.tar

  • Archiving with Permissions: Retain file permissions with the --preserve-permissions option.

Conclusion:

Creating archives via SSH is an essential skill for anyone managing server data, be it for backups, transfers, or other organizational needs. By mastering the tar command and its various options, users of Rapyd Hosting can optimize their file management strategies, making the most out of their server storage and ensuring data integrity.

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