sftp

sftp USER@HOST opens a session that takes FTP-like commands (ls, cd, get, put). -b FILE runs commands from a file (-b - from standard input) and stops at the first error. Not the same as FTPS, which is FTP inside TLS.

sftp command usage

sftp [-b BATCHFILE] USER@HOST

Options

-b -

read commands from standard input, stop at an error

-o BatchMode=no

allow a password in batch mode (labs only)

sftp examples

printf 'ls -l\n' | sftp -b - backup@10.0.9.10

Lists the backup account's files.

sftp backup@10.0.9.10

Opens a session: then ls, cd, get FILE, put FILE, and lcd to move on your own side.

sftp -P 2222 admin@10.0.2.2

Uses the server's port 2222: capital -P, as with scp.

sftp -i ~/.ssh/backup_ed25519 backup@10.0.9.10

Logs in with that private key.

sftp backup@10.0.9.10:officeRouter.conf

Downloads one file into the current directory and quits, without a session.

printf 'put frr.conf\n' | sftp -b - backup@10.0.9.10

Uploads a file from a script, failing if the upload fails.

printf 'get -R configs\n' | sftp -b - backup@10.0.9.10

Downloads a whole directory: -R for recursive.

sftp -b nightly.txt backup@10.0.9.10

Runs the commands in nightly.txt and stops at the first that fails; a line starting with - may fail.

printf 'reget netlab.iso\n' | sftp -b - backup@10.0.9.10

Resumes a download that broke off instead of starting again.

printf 'mkdir archive\nrename officeRouter.conf archive/officeRouter-1.conf\n' | sftp -b - backup@10.0.9.10

Makes a directory and moves a file into it on the server.

sftp -J admin@bastion.lab admin@10.0.3.10

Reaches an inside server through the bastion host.

sftp -l 8000 backup@10.0.9.10

Caps transfers at 8000 Kbit/s.

Pitfalls

• -b turns on BatchMode, which forbids asking for a password: use a key, or -o BatchMode=no with sshpass.