LINUX / LOCAL COMMAND PREVIEW

rsync command generator

Build a dry-run command and a separate execution command for directory synchronization. Choose local copying, upload over SSH or download over SSH. This site does not connect or transfer files.

Choose directories and direction

DirectionSource directory (absolute local path)Destination directory (absolute local path)

Copy the source directory’s contentsRequest archive metadata (-a)

With contents selected, files go directly inside the destination. Otherwise, the named source directory becomes a child of the destination. Choose directory paths below / without wildcards; the tool does not verify that they exist.

Exclusions, compression and deletion (optional)

Exclude patterns, one per line

Compress transferred file dataDelete extra destination entries in the synchronized tree

Deletion is off by default. When enabled, --delete-delay schedules destination deletions; ordinary exclude patterns also protect matching destination entries. The generator does not use --delete-excluded. Review the dry-run before executing changes.

Choose settings and generate the commands.

Review the dry-run first

Source
Destination

Dry-run preview — no changes

Execution command — changes the destination

How to use the result

Verify the direction and paths, then run the dry-run in a POSIX shell on your own machine. Review itemized changes, exclusions and possible deletions. Use the separate execution command only when that plan is correct. The source and destination can change between the two runs.

Metadata and transport

Archive mode requests recursion, symlinks, permissions, modification times, owner/group and special files. The caller’s privileges and receiving filesystem control what can be preserved. Hard links, ACLs and extended attributes are not included in -a. Without archive mode, this generator requests recursion only.

SSH authenticates the remote host using your normal known-hosts policy; host verification is not disabled. Rsync must be installed on both machines. The -s option sends remote path arguments through the rsync protocol and requires rsync 3.0 or newer. A restricted remote shell may refuse it. Compression can help slow links but adds CPU work. Size and modification time are the default pre-transfer change check; this generator does not request a full checksum comparison.

Limits and privacy

Directory paths and up to 20 exclude patterns use printable ASCII text. A local destination inside its source is rejected; symlinks and actual filesystem permissions must be checked on your machine. Identity paths cannot use percent or variable expansion. Inputs remain in this page’s memory and are not uploaded, stored or added to URLs. The site never runs rsync or opens an SSH connection.

Official rsync reference