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Ben Everard
Asked: 2012-04-18 05:19:20 +0800 CST

cp command, ignore unchanged files

  • 772

Is there a way to do a cp but ignoring any files that may already exist at the destination that aren't any older then those files at source.

Basically I want to copy the contents of one disk to another, then run the copy again but only updating new files or files that have been updated on the source side.

Thanks

linux terminal cp ignore

3 Answers

  1. Best Answer

    use this:

    rsync -a /source /destination

    Alternatively, you can get more details with a few other flags like -v or --progress.

    • 19

  2. from the cp manpage:

       -u, --update
          copy only when the SOURCE file is newer than the destination file or when  the
          destination file is missing
    • 11

  3. Use rsync, problem solved. 

    rsync -av /srcdir /tgtdir
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