rsync (remote sync) is a fast, versatile file-copying tool that transfers only the changed portions of files using a delta-transfer algorithm. Originally created by Andrew Tridgell and Paul Mackerras in 1996, rsync is the de facto standard for efficient incremental backups and file synchronization on Linux and Unix-like systems. Version 3.4.3 (May 2026) is the current stable release. rsync operates over SSH or its own daemon protocol (TCP 873), making it suitable for local copies, LAN transfers, and remote backups alike.
What This Cheat Sheet Covers
This topic spans 18 focused tables and 164 indexed concepts. Below is a complete table-by-table outline of this topic, spanning foundational concepts through advanced details.
Basic Syntax and InvocationTrailing Slash Semantics (Critical Gotcha)Archive Mode (-a) BreakdownCommon Options ReferenceDelete StrategiesInclude / Exclude Filter RulesSSH Transport and Remote Accessrsync Daemon Mode (rsyncd)Incremental Snapshots with --link-destCompression OptionsPartial Transfers and ResumingFile Comparison: --checksum vs DefaultExit Codessystemd Timer IntegrationSecurity: January 2025 CVE Clusterrsync vs rclone vs restic vs BorgCommon Backup Use CasesPerformance Tuning
Basic Syntax and Invocation
| Form | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
General syntax | rsync [OPTIONS] SOURCE DEST | Source and destination can be local paths or user@host:path |
Local copy | rsync -av /src/ /dst/ | -a archive mode, -v verbose |
Push to remote | rsync -avz /local/ user@host:/remote/ | Transfers from local to remote |
Pull from remote | rsync -avz user@host:/remote/ /local/ | Transfers from remote to local |