16 Useful ‘cp’ Command Examples for Linux Beginners

Linux Techi ^ | 10 February 2019 | Pradeep Kumar

[ShadowAce]

In this article we will demonstrate 16 useful cp command examples specially for the linux beginners. Following is the basic syntax of cp command,

Copy a file to another file

# cp {options} source_file target_file

Copy File(s) to another directory or folder

# cp {options} source_file   target_directory 

Copy directory to directory

# cp {options} source_directory target_directory

Let’s jump into the practical examples of cp command,

Example:1) Copy file to target directory

Let’s assume we want copy the /etc/passwd file to /mnt/backup directory for some backup purpose, so run below cp command,

root@linuxtechi:~# cp /etc/passwd /mnt/backup/
root@linuxtechi:~#

Use below command to verify whether it has been copied or not.

root@linuxtechi:~# ls -l /mnt/backup/
total 4
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 2410 Feb  3 17:10 passwd
root@linuxtechi:~#

Example:2 Copying multiple files at the same time

Let’s assume we want to copy multiples (/etc/passwd, /etc/group & /etc/shadow) at same time to target directory (/mnt/backup)

root@linuxtechi:~# cp /etc/passwd /etc/group /etc/shadow /mnt/backup/
root@linuxtechi:~#

Example:3) Copying the files interactively (-i)

If you wish to copy the files from one place to another interactively then use the “-i” option in cp command, interactive option only works if the destination directory already has the same file, example is shown below,

root@linuxtechi:~# cp -i /etc/passwd /mnt/backup/
cp: overwrite '/mnt/backup/passwd'? y
root@linuxtechi:~#

In the above command one has to manually type ‘y’ to allow the copy operation

Example:4) Verbose output during copy command (-v)

If you want the verbose output of cp command then use “-v” option, example is shown below

root@linuxtechi:~# cp -v /etc/fstab  /mnt/backup/
'/etc/fstab' -> '/mnt/backup/fstab'
root@linuxtechi:~#

In case you want to use both interactive mode and verbose mode then use the options “-iv”

root@linuxtechi:~# cp -iv /etc/fstab  /mnt/backup/
cp: overwrite '/mnt/backup/fstab'? y
'/etc/fstab' -> '/mnt/backup/fstab'
root@linuxtechi:~#

Example:5) Copying a directory or folder (-r or -R)

To copy a directory from one place to another use -r or -R option in cp command. Let’s assume we want to copy the home directory of linuxtechi user to “/mn/backup”,

root@linuxtechi:~# cp -r /home/linuxtechi /mnt/backup/
root@linuxtechi:~#

In above command, -r option will copy the files and directory recursively.

Now verify the contents of linuxtechi directory on target place,

root@linuxtechi:~# ls -l /mnt/backup/linuxtechi/
total 24
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 Feb  3 17:41 data
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root    7 Feb  3 17:41 file_1.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root    7 Feb  3 17:41 file_2.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root    7 Feb  3 17:41 file_3.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root    7 Feb  3 17:41 file_4.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root    7 Feb  3 17:41 file_5txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root    0 Feb  3 17:41 file_5.txt
root@linuxtechi:~#

Example:6) Archive files and directory during copy (-a)

While copying a directory using cp command we generally use -r or -R option, but in place of -r option we can use ‘-a’ which will archive the files and directory during copy, example is shown below,

root@linuxtechi:~# cp -a /home/linuxtechi /mnt/backup/
root@linuxtechi:~# ls -l /mnt/backup/linuxtechi/
total 24
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 Feb  3 17:41 data
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root    7 Feb  3 17:39 file_1.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root    7 Feb  3 17:39 file_2.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root    7 Feb  3 17:39 file_3.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root    7 Feb  3 17:39 file_4.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root    7 Feb  3 17:40 file_5txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root    0 Feb  3 17:39 file_5.txt
root@linuxtechi:~#

Example:7) Copy only when source file is newer than the target file (-u)

There can be some scenarios where you want copy the files only if the source files are newer than the destination ones. This can be easily achieved using “-u” option in the cp command.

In the Example:6  we have copied the linuxtechi home directory to /mnt/backup folder, in the linuxtechi home folder we have 5 txt files, let’s edit couple of them and then copy all the txt files using “cp -u”.

root@linuxtechi:~# cd /home/linuxtechi/
root@linuxtechi:/home/linuxtechi# echo "LinuxRocks" >> file_1.txt
root@linuxtechi:/home/linuxtechi# echo "LinuxRocks" >> file_4.txt
root@linuxtechi:/home/linuxtechi# cp -v -u  file_*.txt /mnt/backup/linuxtechi/
'file_1.txt' -> '/mnt/backup/linuxtechi/file_1.txt'
'file_4.txt' -> '/mnt/backup/linuxtechi/file_4.txt'
root@linuxtechi:/home/linuxtechi#

Example:8) Do not overwrite the existing file while copying (-n)

There are some scenarios where you don’t want to overwrite the existing destination files while copying. This can be accomplished using the option ‘-n’ in ‘cp’ command

root@linuxtechi:~# cp -i /etc/passwd /mnt/backup/
cp: overwrite '/mnt/backup/passwd'?

As you can see in above command, it is prompting us to overwrite the existing file, if you use -n then it will not prompt for the overwrite and also will not overwrite the existing file.

root@linuxtechi:~# cp -n /etc/passwd /mnt/backup/
root@linuxtechi:~#

Example:9) Creating symbolic links using cp command (-s)

Let’s assume we want to create symbolic link of a file instead copying using cp command, for such scenarios use ‘-s’ option in cp command, example is shown below

root@linuxtechi:~# cp -s /home/linuxtechi/file_1.txt /mnt/backup/
root@linuxtechi:~# cd /mnt/backup/
root@linuxtechi:/mnt/backup# ls -l file_1.txt
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 27 Feb  5 18:37 file_1.txt -> /home/linuxtechi/file_1.txt
root@linuxtechi:/mnt/backup#

Example:10) Creating Hard link using cp command (-l)

If you want to create hard link of a file instead copy using cp command, then use ‘-l’ option. example is shown below,

root@linuxtechi:~# cp -l /home/linuxtechi/devops.txt /mnt/backup/
root@linuxtechi:~#

As we know in hard link, source and linked file will have the same inode numbers, let’s verify this using following commands,

root@linuxtechi:~# ls -li /mnt/backup/devops.txt
918196 -rw-r--r-- 2 root root 37 Feb  5 20:02 /mnt/backup/devops.txt
root@linuxtechi:~# ls -li /home/linuxtechi/devops.txt
918196 -rw-r--r-- 2 root root 37 Feb  5 20:02 /home/linuxtechi/devops.txt
root@linuxtechi:

Example:11) Copying attributes from source to destination (–attributes-only)

If you want to copy only the attributes from source to destination using cp command, then use option “–attributes-only”

root@linuxtechi:/home/linuxtechi# cp --attributes-only /home/linuxtechi/distributions.txt /mnt/backup/
root@linuxtechi:/home/linuxtechi# ls -l /home/linuxtechi/distributions.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 41 Feb  5 19:31 /home/linuxtechi/distributions.txt
root@linuxtechi:/home/linuxtechi# ls -l /mnt/backup/distributions.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 Feb  5 19:34 /mnt/backup/distributions.txt
root@linuxtechi:/home/linuxtechi#

In the above command, we have copied the distribution.txt file from linuxtechi home directory to /mnt/backup folder, if you have noticed, only the attributes are copied, and content is skipped. Size of distribution.txt under /mn/backup folder is zero bytes.

Example:12) Creating backup of existing destination file while copying (–backup)

Default behavior of cp command is to overwrite the file on destination if the same file exists, if you want to make a backup of existing destination file during the copy operation then use ‘–backup‘ option, example is shown below,

root@linuxtechi:~# cp --backup=simple -v /home/linuxtechi/distributions.txt /mnt/backup/distributions.txt
'/home/linuxtechi/distributions.txt' -> '/mnt/backup/distributions.txt' (backup: '/mnt/backup/distributions.txt~')
root@linuxtechi:~#

If you have noticed, backup has been created and appended tilde symbol at end of file. backup option accept following parameters

• none, off  – never make backups
• numbered, t – make numbered backups
• existing, nil – numbered if numbered backups exist, simple otherwise
• simple, never – always make simple backups

Example:13) Preserve mode, ownership and timestamps while copying (-p)

If you want to preserve the file attributes like mode, ownership and timestamps while copying then use -p option in cp command, example is demonstrated below,

root@linuxtechi:~# cd /home/linuxtechi/
root@linuxtechi:/home/linuxtechi# cp -p devops.txt /mnt/backup/
root@linuxtechi:/home/linuxtechi# ls -l devops.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 37 Feb  5 20:02 devops.txt
root@linuxtechi:/home/linuxtechi# ls -l /mnt/backup/devops.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 37 Feb  5 20:02 /mnt/backup/devops.txt
root@linuxtechi:/home/linuxtechi#

Example:14) Do not follow symbolic links in Source while copying (-P)

If you do not want to follow the symbolic links of source while copying then use -P option in cp command, example is shown below

root@linuxtechi:~# cd /home/linuxtechi/
root@linuxtechi:/home/linuxtechi# ls -l /opt/nix-release.txt
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 14 Feb  9 12:28 /opt/nix-release.txt -> os-release.txt
root@linuxtechi:/home/linuxtechi#
root@linuxtechi:/home/linuxtechi# cp -P os-release.txt /mnt/backup/
root@linuxtechi:/home/linuxtechi# ls -l /mnt/backup/os-release.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 35 Feb  9 12:29 /mnt/backup/os-release.txt
root@linuxtechi:/home/linuxtechi#

Note: Default behavior of cp command is to follow the symbolic links in source while copying.

Example:15) Copy the files and directory forcefully using -f option

There can be some scenarios where existing destination file cannot be opened and removed. And if you have healthy file which can be copied in place of existing destination file, then use cp command along with -f option

root@linuxtechi:/home/linuxtechi# cp -f distributions.txt  /mnt/backup/
root@linuxtechi:/home/linuxtechi#

Example:16) Copy sparse files using sparse option in cp command

Sparse is a regular file which contains long sequence of zero bytes that doesn’t consume any physical disk block. One of benefit of sparse file is that it does not consume much disk space and read operation on that file would be quite fast.

Let’s assume we have sparse cloud image named as “ubuntu-cloud.img”

root@linuxtechi:/home/linuxtechi# du -sh ubuntu-cloud.img
12M     ubuntu-cloud.img
root@linuxtechi:/home/linuxtechi# cp --sparse=always ubuntu-cloud.img /mnt/backup/
root@linuxtechi:/home/linuxtechi# du -sh /mnt/backup/ubuntu-cloud.img
0       /mnt/backup/ubuntu-cloud.img
root@linuxtechi:/home/linuxtechi#

Different options can be used while using sparse parameter in cp command,

• sparse=auto
• sparse-always
• sparse=never

[Paladin2]

I find vnstat to be useful in monitoring ‘net useage at home.

Especially if I configure the home network to make everything flow through the desktop.

[chuckles]

OK. Hypothetical,....Let's say I'm running Mint and I find out the version of Firefox is about 3 versions behind and I want to upgrade it. So I go download a file. Now what?

In Windows, I click on "Upgrade", go take a leak and come back and it's upgraded. One mouse click....Done!

In Linux, I'm in the File Manager and see a folder with the program I want to run. What file do I click on to make it run? In Windows, just find the EXE file and click. Done! I can operate Linux from a gui, but trying to make my way around behind the gui make NO SENSE to a windows user. basically, I can surf the net, play an audio file, play a video file, and......gimmmeee a minute,.....That's about it. I work with drivers, disks, USB, diagnose problems and fix them, ect in Windows. I can't even mess with a dis without having to mount it first. Why can't it just see the disk and guess that I might want to mess with it and mount it automatically without trying to figure out if it's SDb4 or SDb5? Every single act in Linux is a pain in the butt.

I just think some guru software writer out there could change Linux distro's to act more user friendly( doesn't have to look like Windows) but just act more logically. I'm sure if I was raised on Linux( I'm 67 and started on Dos with a 286@12mhz) maybe Linux would make more sense to me. But starting with Microsoft just makes Windows more logical to me. I would love to use Linux, but it's too much work to get less done. If I spoke the lingo it would be great.

[ShadowAce]

OK. Hypothetical,....Let's say I'm running Mint and I find out the version of Firefox is about 3 versions behind and I want to upgrade it. So I go download a file. Now what?

In Windows, I click on "Upgrade", go take a leak and come back and it's upgraded. One mouse click....Done!

Disclaimer: I run Fedora at home and Red Hat at work. I'm unfamiliar with Debian-based distros like Mint.

That being said, I believe there is a "Software Updater" or Manager, or something like that that performs the same function. Click it and you are updated.

There are also command-line variants where you just type in "apt-get upgrade" and your system gets updated.

[lurked_for_a_decade]

Depending upon your version of Linux(Unix) you would use one of two methods to install pre-packaged Linux ( software packages ) called rpm files from a repository of updates made by the vendor.

RedHat Variants use yum
Debian variants use apt-get

Solaris(Oracle) Unix variants use pkgadd

At the command line level.
http://man7.org/linux/man-pages/man8/yum.8.html

or

http://man7.org/linux/man-pages/man1/dpkg.1.html

or

https://docs.oracle.com/cd/E19455-01/806-0625/6j9vfilsu/index.html

There is a binding between software file types and commands
that enable you to click on a package icon and install it through the graphical user interface of your choice.

The sudo comman and its config file has to give you administrative permission to run these commands through the graphical interface otherwise you have to sudo to root and type the command manually at a command line terminal application interface of your choice.

Setting this up varies also depending on your desktop version, Gnome, KDE, etc.

If you use the yum.conf file you can config the repositories and separate vendor repositories where software updates are grabbed off the internet and simply type:

sudo yum install.

debian has a similar command.

All these can be scheduled to occur automatically.

At the bottom of every Linux manual page like the two linked above there is a “SEE ALSO” section. Like this

SEE ALSO

apt-get(8), apt-cache(8), sources.list(5), apt.conf(5), apt-config(8), The APT User’s guide in /usr/share/doc/apt-doc/, apt_preferences(5), the APT Howto.

The number in parenthesis is the section of the manual.

Separte sections exist for commands section (1), programmers API section (2), software configurations(8) etc.

man -s 1 yum

is from section 1

man -s 8 yum

is from section 8 etc.

Full manuals have a package name and can be installed locally as a choice when you installed your distribution or later when the need arises.

Once the manuals are installed you can look up any command with the man command:
Example:

man yum
or
man dpkg.

even man man.

There is also a graphical interface program that enables you to browse the manual and all it’s pages like an adobe pdf reader.

Every command you need and Applications Programmer interface call at the C or C++ programming language is also available.

Software packages that are properly written will install new manual pages for that package.

For example a complete set of manual pages for all programs and library’s will be installed when you install the python packages of the Development environment packages.

There is an interface that allows you to browse graphically the repository of software availabke, patches, updates and third party vendor software also.

There are software packages that are distributed in a manner that requires you to unpack them from a compresses tar (tape archive), run a build or config command that sets up a file that has appropriate flags for the compilers etc and then run the make command, followed by make install.

Within the tar containing the software is usually a file named README that gives full instructions for configuring, building and installing the software.

These are usually not “professionally” packaged from a vendor or opensource source. Some are from universities or just available as is type stuff.

I’m done I could go on and on all day about this stuff.

Build software distribution packages for all the above methods is an art form in itself.

https://git-scm.com/

or

https://maven.apache.org/

or

https://ant.apache.org/

Pulling all of this togetor is very complex Integrated Development Environments like this

https://www.eclipse.org/

I’m so glad I retired. My brain was about to pop before I quit.

Pulling all this together for serious developers can take years after getting a BS and/or MS in Computer Science and the luck of working in a professional environments. The devil is in the details. Most environments aren’t professional.

[lurked_for_a_decade]

When I login to my Linux, I can select the desktop environment I use before selecting my User Id and entering my password.

The Gnome environment has gone a long way for making it easy.

Different Desktop environments have different environments.

Unix unlike windows is a command line environment with a Graphical interface built on top off it.

Windows is a graphical environment that changes in every release with a poor operating system underneath it.

One was built from the bottom up; The other was built from the top down.

It is a whole different design philosophy in Unix that evolved from a research environment.

The best book for understanding what is under the hood in Unix and why is Kernighan and Pikes book,

“The Unix programming Environment”

[Varmint Al]

OK. Hypothetical,....Let's say I'm running Mint and I find out the version of Firefox is about 3 versions behind and I want to upgrade it. So I go download a file. Now what?

I use Linux Mint Cinnamon 19.1 Tessa. Your "Hypothetical" is not valid. In Linux Mint there is an Icon on the panel that indicates that one or more updates are available. One merely clicks on the Icon and Volia! the updates are installed after you enter your password.

To launch a program, merely click on the Menu Icon on the left side of the panel and start typing the name -- Linux Mint will show all of the software that starts with those few characters. One merely click the program you want to launch. It is that simple.

Linux Mint is designed to be even easier to use than Windows from the desktop, without using the command line.

You can download the free Linux Mint install .ISO file and burn it on a USB stick or DVD and try it "on the fly" even without installing it.

Good Hunting... from Varmint Al

[Varmint Al]

Here is my Linux Mint Desktop. I have put the important Icons on my Desktop. To launch any of these is merely a double-click. I also put the Software Manager up and you can get an idea of all the FREE software that one can get by merely clicking the Install button.

Good Hunting... from Varmint Al