Rsync, copy through symlink

Question

I am using rsync to backup my server to an offsite server. Due to diskspace on my backup server, I have created a couple of symlinks to put some of the data on a different drive. However, instead of copying through to that symlink location, rsync is deleting the symlink and replacing it with a real directory.

How can I get rysnc to copy through the symlink on the destination?

Answer 1

I think you need to use the option --no-implied-dirs.

For more info, see man rsync.

Look at the paragraph that explains the usage of this option.

Answer 2

According to the manpage, the -l flag to rsync:

-l, --links                 copy symlinks as symlinks

should do what you want.