sftp -- secure file transfer program

SYNOPSIS

sftp [-1246pqrvC] [-F ssh_config] [-B buffer_size] [-b batchfile] [-c cipher] [-i identity_file] [-o ssh_option] [-s subsystem|sftp_server] [-P port] [-R num_requests] [-S program] [-o ssh_option] [host]

sftp [[user@]host[:file [file]]]

sftp [[user@]host[:dir[/]]]

DESCRIPTION

sftp is an interactive file transfer program, similar to ftp, which performs all operations over an encrypted secsh transport. It may also use many features of secsh, such as public key authentication and compression. sftp connects and logs into the specified host, then enters an interactive command mode.

The second usage format will retrieve files automatically if a non-interactive authentication is used; otherwise, it will do so after successful interactive authentication.

The third usage format allows the sftp client to start in a remote directory.

The final usage format allows for automated sessions using the -b option. In such cases, it is necessary to configure non-interactive authentication to obviate the need to enter a password at connection time (see secshd and secsh-keygen for details).

Since some usage formats use colon characters to delimit host names from path names, IPv6 addresses must be enclosed in square brackets to avoid ambiguity.

Options

-1

Specifies the use of protocol version 1.

-2

Specifies the use of protocol version 2.

-4

Forces sftp to use IPv4 addresses only.

-6

Forces sftp to use IPv6 addresses only.

-B buffer_size

Specifies the size of the buffers that sftp uses when transferring files. Larger buffers require fewer round trips at the cost of higher memory consumption. The default is 32768 bytes.

-b batchfile

Batch mode reads a series of commands from an input batchfile instead of stdin. Since it lacks user interaction it should be used in conjunction with non-interactive authentication. sftp will abort if any of the following commands fail: get, put, rename, ln, rm, and lmkdir.

-C

Enables compression (via secsh's -C flag)

-c cipher

Selects the cipher to use for encrypting the data transfers. This option is directly passed to secsh.

-D sftp_server_path

Connect directly to a local sftp server (rather than via secsh). This option may be useful in debugging the client and server.

-F ssh_config

Specifies an alternative per-user configuration file for secsh. This option is directly passed to secsh.

-i identity_file

Selects the file from which the identity (private key) for public key authentication is read. This option is directly passed to secsh.

-o ssh_option

Any valid -o option to secsh can be specified, and it is directly passed through when secsh is invoked. This is useful for specifying options for which there is no separate sftp command-line flag. For example, to specify an alternate port:

sftp -oPort=24

-P port

Specifies the port to connect to on the remote host.

-p

Preserves modification times, access times, and modes from the original files transferred.

-q

Quiet mode: disables the progress meter as well as warning and diagnostic messages from secsh.

-R num_requests

Specifies how many requests may be outstanding at any one time. Increasing this may slightly improve file transfer speed but increases memory usage. The default is 64 outstanding requests.

-r

Recursively copy entire directories when uploading and downloading. Note that sftp does not follow symbolic links encountered in the tree traversal.

-s subsystem|sftp_server

Specifies the SSH2 subsystem or the path for an sftp server on the remote host. A path is useful for using sftp over protocol version 1, or when the remote secshd does not have an sftp subsystem configured.

-S program

Specifies the name of the program to use for the encrypted connection. The program must understand secsh options.

-v

Raises logging level. This option is also passed to secsh.

Interactive Commands

Once in interactive mode, sftp understands a set of commands similar to those of ftp. Commands are case insensitive and path names may be enclosed in quotes if they contain spaces.

bye

Quits sftp

cd path

Changes remote directory to path.

lcd path

Changes local directory to path.

chgrp grp path

Changes group of file path to grp. grp must be a numeric GID.

chmod mode path

Changes permission of file path to mode.

chown own path

Changes owner of file path to own. own must be a numeric UID.

df [-hi] [path]

Displays usage information for the file system holding the current directory (or path if specified). When the -h flag is specified, the capacity information is displayed using "human-readable" suffixes. The -i flag requests display of inode information in addition to capacity information. This command is only supported on servers that implement the statvfs@openssh.com extension.

exit

Quits sftp.

get [flags] remote-path [loacl-path]

Retrieves the remote-path and stores it on the local machine. If the local path name is not specified, it is given the same name it has on the remote machine.

If either the -P or -p flag is specified, then full file permissions and access times are copied too.

If the -r flag is specified then directories will be copied recursively. Note that sftp does not follow symbolic links when performing recursive transfers.

help

Displays help text.

lls [ls-options] [path]]

Displays local directory listing of either path or current directory if path is not specified.

lmkdir path

Creates local directory specified by path.

ln [-s] oldpath newpath

Creates a link from oldpath to newpath. If the -s flag is specified the created link is a symbolic link, otherwise it is a hard link.

lpwd

Displays local working directory.

ls [flags] [path]

Displays remote directory listing of either path or current directory if path is not specified.

The following flags are recognized and alter the behavior of ls accordingly:

-1: Produces single column output.
-a: Lists files beginning with a dot (.).
-f: Does not sort the listing. This default sort is lexicographical.
-h: When used with a long format option, use unit suffixes: Byte, Kilobyte, Megabyte, Gigabyte, Terabyte, Petabyte, and Exabyte in order to reduce the number of digits to four or fewer using powers of 2 for sizes (K=1024, M=1048576, etc.).
-l: Displays additional details including permissions and ownership information.
-n: Produces a long listing with user and group information presented numerically.
-r: Reserves the sort order of the listing.
-S: Sorts the listing by file size.
-t: Sorts the listing by last modification time.

lumask umask

Sets local umask to umask.

mkdir path

Creates remote directory specified by path.

put [flags] local-path [local-path]

Uploads local-path and stores it on the remote machine. If the remote path name is not specified, it is given the same name it has on the local machine. local-path may contain glob characters and may match multiple files. If it does and remote-path is specified, then remote-path must specify a directory. If the -P flag is specified, then the file's full permission and access time are copied too.

If either the -P or -p flag is specified, then full file permissions and access times are copied too.

If the -r flag is specified then directories will be copied recursively. Note that sftp does not follow symbolic links when performing recursive transfers.

progress

Toggles display of progress meter.

pwd

Displays remote working directory.

quit

Quits sftp.

rename oldpath newpath

Renames remote file from oldpath to newpath.

rmdir path

Removes remote directory specified by path.

rm path

Deletes remote file specified by path.

symlink oldpath newpath

Create a symbolic link from oldpath to newpath.

version

Displays sftp protocol version.

! command

Executes command in local shell.

!

Escapes to local shell.

?

Synonym for help.

sftp
secure file transfer program

Command

SYNOPSIS

DESCRIPTION

Options

Interactive Commands

AUTHORS

PORTABILITY

NOTES

AVAILABILITY

SEE ALSO

sftp secure file transfer program

Command

sftp
secure file transfer program