Secure File Transfer Between Linux and Linux Servers

SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol) is a secure way to transfer files between your Linux machine and a Linux server. This article explains how to use the sftp command in the Linux terminal to copy files securely.


Step 1: Ensure SSH is Enabled on your Linux Server

Make sure the SSH service is installed and running on your Linux server. Use the following command:

sudo apt-get install openssh-server

Step 2: Use the sftp Command to Transfer Files

Connect to the Server

To start an SFTP session, use the following command:

sftp username@hostname_or_ip
  • Replace username with your Linux server username.

  • Replace hostname_or_ip with your server’s IP address or domain name.

Transfer Files Using SFTP Commands

Once connected, you can use the following commands to transfer files:

  • Download a file from the server:

  • Upload a file to the server:

  • List files in the remote directory:

  • Change the remote directory:

  • Exit the SFTP session:


Example Commands

Upload Example

put ~/Documents/example.txt /home/user/uploads

Download Example

get /home/user/uploads/example.txt ~/Downloads