Transfer Files Between Two Linux Systems

In this guide, Machine A has the user linuxuser and IP 192.168.10.10, and Machine B has the user ubuntu and IP 192.168.10.8. Change them to your own values.

Method 1: rsync

rsync copies only changed parts of files, so it is fast for repeated copies. It uses SSH.

Step 1: Install rsync (on both machines)

sudo apt install rsync -y

Step 2: Check SSH access

From A to B:

ssh ubuntu@192.168.10.8

From B to A:

ssh linuxuser@192.168.10.10

Step 3: Set up SSH keys (optional but better)

ssh-keygen -t rsa

ssh-copy-id ubuntu@192.168.10.8

Step 4: Send a file from B to A (run on B)

rsync -avz /home/ubuntu/file.txt linuxuser@192.168.10.10:/home/linuxuser

• -a keeps permissions and times, and copies folders.
• -v shows the progress.
• -z compresses the data while it travels.

Step 5: Send a folder from A to B (run on A)

rsync -avz /home/linuxuser/docs/ ubuntu@192.168.10.8:/home/ubuntu/

Step 6: Pull in the other direction

rsync -avz ubuntu@192.168.10.8:/home/ubuntu/file.txt /home/linuxuser

Method 2: FTP

FTP is a common way to move files, but it does not encrypt data by default. Use it only on a trusted network, or use SFTP.

Step 1: Install an FTP server (on the server machine, B)

sudo apt install vsftpd

Edit /etc/vsftpd.conf and set write_enable=YES to allow uploads, then restart:

sudo systemctl restart vsftpd

Step 2: Open port 21

sudo ufw allow 21/tcp

Step 3: Make a test file

echo "FTP test file" > /home/linuxuser/Documents/ftp-test.txt

Step 4: Connect from the client

ftp 192.168.10.8

Enter the user name and password.

Step 5: Upload

put /home/linuxuser/Documents/ftp-test.txt ftp-test.txt

Step 6: Download

get ftp-test.txt

Method 3: Samba

Samba shares folders over SMB/CIFS. It is mainly for Windows, but it also works between Linux machines.

Step 1: Install Samba (on both)

sudo apt install samba smbclient cifs-utils -y

Step 2: Share a folder on Machine A

mkdir -p /home/linuxuser/shared
chmod 775 /home/linuxuser/shared

Edit the config:

sudo nano /etc/samba/smb.conf

Add this at the bottom:

[SharedFolder]
    path = /home/linuxuser/shared
    valid users = linuxuser
    read only = no
    browsable = yes

Set a Samba password for the user:

sudo smbpasswd -a linuxuser

Restart the service:

sudo systemctl restart smbd

Step 3: Access the share from Machine B

smbclient //192.168.10.10/SharedFolder -U linuxuser

At the smb: prompt use ls, put and get. Upload:

put /home/ubuntu/Documents/smb-test.txt smb-test.txt

Download:

get smb-test.txt

Step 4: Mount the share on Machine B

mkdir -p /home/ubuntu/mountA

sudo mount -t cifs //192.168.10.10/SharedFolder /home/ubuntu/mountA -o username=linuxuser

It asks for the Samba password. (Putting the password in the command line leaves it in your shell history.)

ls /home/ubuntu/mountA

Step 5: Copy files

sudo cp /home/ubuntu/smb-test.txt /home/ubuntu/mountA/

To copy from A to B, copy out of the mounted folder:

cp /home/ubuntu/mountA/filename.txt /home/ubuntu/

Method 4: scp (secure copy)

scp copies over SSH, so the data is encrypted.

Step 1: Install OpenSSH

sudo apt update && sudo apt install openssh-server -y

Step 2: Start SSH

sudo systemctl enable --now ssh && sudo systemctl status ssh

Step 3: Check the SSH connection

ssh ubuntu@192.168.10.8

ssh linuxuser@192.168.10.10

Step 4: Send a file from A to B

scp /home/linuxuser/localfile.txt ubuntu@192.168.10.8:/home/ubuntu/

Step 5: Send a file from B to A

scp /home/ubuntu/text.txt linuxuser@192.168.10.10:/home/linuxuser/

Step 6: Send a folder

scp -r /home/linuxuser/project ubuntu@192.168.10.8:/home/ubuntu/

scp -r /home/ubuntu/docs linuxuser@192.168.10.10:/home/linuxuser/

Method 5: SFTP

SFTP is the safe version of FTP and works through SSH.

Step 1: Make sure the SSH server runs on Machine B

sudo apt update && sudo apt install openssh-server -y

Step 2: Allow port 22 in UFW

sudo ufw allow 22/tcp

Step 3: Start a session from Machine A

sftp ubuntu@192.168.10.8

Step 4: Upload and download

put /home/linuxuser/file.txt

get /home/ubuntu/file.txt

Method 6: Python web server (quick)

This is handy for a one-time transfer on a trusted network.

Step 1: On the sending machine, open the folder and start a server

cd /path/to/files

python3 -m http.server 8000

Step 2: On the receiving machine, download the file

wget http://192.168.10.10:8000/file.txt

Press Ctrl+C on the sender when you are done.

Which method to use

Quick recap

• Use rsync or scp first. Both are encrypted.
• Avoid plain FTP over the internet.