rsync

rsync is an open source utility that provides fast incremental file transfer.

Runs as rsync|macOS, Linux|rsync.samba.org

Command form

curated · 3 tasks · 11 fields

One source to one destination. Directory contents: src/ copies children; directory itself: src copies the directory. SSH checks run only when requested. Daemon URLs, two remote ends, custom remote commands and passwords are outside this form.

Opens the form; the finished command lands at your prompt, unrun

Run in Otty

otty gui rsync

Synchronize one sourceExample values, fixed in this page — nothing here reaches a terminal

Transfer

Source*

./photos/

Destination*

backup:/photos/

Archive / preserve attributes

--archive

Advanced

Verbosity

2count

Exclude patterns (ordered)

string

Delete extra destination files

--delete

TasksEach one presets the form for one job

Preview synchronization

sourcedestinationarchivedeleteexcludeverbose

Local backup

sourcedestinationdeletedry_runexcludeverbose

Push to SSH

Choose the SSH variant for the destination, then explicitly check both rsync installations before inserting.

sourcedestinationarchivedeletedry_runexclude

ParametersOnly these flags are editable in the form

Archive / preserve attributes

Archive is a group of preservation options (-rlptgoD), not just recursion. It stays one --archive flag.
boolean

--archive-a

Recurse into directories

boolean

--recursive-r

Compress during transfer

boolean

--compress-z

Verbosity

count

--verbose-v

Exclude patterns (ordered)

Literal patterns passed to rsync in this order; Otty never expands globs.
string · repeatable

--exclude

Delete extra destination files

Deletes destination entries not present in the source. Review a dry run first.
boolean

--delete

Dry run / preview only

boolean

--dry-run-n

Itemize changes

boolean

--itemize-changes-i

Protect SSH arguments

Always includes -s for SSH endpoints; both rsync installations must support it.

-s

Source

src/ transfers its contents; src transfers the directory itself. Keep the trailing slash exactly as intended.
positional 0

Destination

positional 1

SourcesEvery flag above is checked against these

rsync-manpage

Archive, recursive, compress, verbose, exclude, delete, dry-run, itemize-changes, one local/SSH source and destination. -s protects remote arguments and requires both rsync versions at least 3.0.0.

curated2026-10-27

download.samba.org

Before it fills your prompt, Otty checks the installed rsync against rsync.ssh-protect-args. A form that does not match your version is not offered.