Rsync creates a directory with the same name inside of destination directory

Question

When I run this command

rsync -avzp --del -e "ssh -p myport" user@hostname:/var/www/tests /var/www/tests

files get synchronized but instead of saving files in /var/www/tests, Rsync creates one more directory "tests" inside of existing "tests":

/var/www/tests/tests

and puts files there. How to tell Rsync not to create a new directory?

etagenklo · Accepted Answer · 2013-08-07 11:21:14Z

92

If you don't want another tests directory created, the correct command would be

rsync -avzp --del -e "ssh -p myport" user@hostname:/var/www/tests/ /var/www/tests

Note the / at the end of user@hostname:/var/www/tests/.

answered Aug 7, 2013 at 11:21

etagenklo

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1

beware also of the rsync option -R, if you are having this problem. The very purpose of -R (or --relative) is to recreate the full source directory path at the destination. So it will have the same effect as if you omit the trailing slash.
– markling
Nov 12, 2019 at 11:15
-a already contains -p
– mgutt
Apr 1, 2022 at 16:45

Add a comment |

Drew Khoury · Accepted Answer · 2014-02-15 03:31:57Z

You need a trailing slash on the source.

Here is the correct command:

rsync -avzp --del -e "ssh -p myport" user@hostname:/var/www/tests/ /var/www/tests

Explanation of rsync and trailing slashes:

Rsync has two major modes of operation. The modes are dependent on the absence or presence of the trailing slash on the source directory.

Another example:

...you need to add the trailing slash, otherwise, a folder called Pictures is created inside the Pictures folder that we specify as destination.

2 Answers 2