Linux / Unix: Rsync Copy Hidden Dot Files and Directories Only

by nixCraft on November 9, 2012 · 4 comments· last updated at November 9, 2012

How do I use the rsync tool to copy only the hidden files and directory (such as ~/.ssh/, ~/.foo, and so on) from /home/jobs directory to the /mnt/usb directory under Unix like operating system?

The rsync program is used for synchronizing files over a network or local disks. To view or display only hidden files with ls command:

Tutorial details
Difficulty	Easy (rss)
Root privileges	No
Requirements	rsync / bash or ksh

ls -ld ~/.??*

ls -ld ~/.[^.]*

Sample outputs:

ls command: List only hidden files in Unix / Linux terminal

Fig:01 ls command to view only hidden files

In this example, you used the pattern .[^.]* or .??* to select and display only hidden files using ls command. You can use the same pattern with any Unix command including rsync command. The syntax is:

 
rsync -av /path/to/dir/.??* /path/to/dest
rsync -avzP /path/to/dir/.??* /mnt/usb
rsync -avzP $HOME/.??* user1@server1.cyberciti.biz:/path/to/backup/users/u/user1
rsync -avzP ~/.[^.]* user1@server1.cyberciti.biz:/path/to/backup/users/u/user1

In this example, copy all hidden files from my home directory to /mnt/test:

 
rsync -avzP ~/.[^.]* /mnt/test

Sample outputs:

Fig.02 Rsync example to copy only hidden files

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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Roc White November 11, 2012 at 3:23 am

Wouldn’t “.??*” leave out files like .a, .b, etc.?

2 ITN John November 11, 2012 at 6:28 am

Noop. Any details on ls version and Unix may help if you are not getting the same result.

ls -l ./.??*
-rw-r--r-- 1 John John    0 Nov 11 11:54 ./.a,
-rw-r--r-- 1 John John    0 Nov 11 11:54 ./.b,
-rw-r--r-- 1 John John    0 Nov 11 11:54 ./.ssh
./.rss:
total 0

3 TW November 12, 2012 at 4:09 am: root@node0 / # cd /tmp
root@node0 /tmp # ls -ld .??*
ls: cannot access .??*: No such file or directory
2 root@node0 /tmp # touch .a .b
root@node0 /tmp # ls -ld .??*
ls: cannot access .??*: No such file or directory
2 root@node0 /tmp # ls -ld .[^.]*
-rw-r–r–. 1 root root 0 Nov 11 23:07 .a
-rw-r–r–. 1 root root 0 Nov 11 23:07 .b
root@node0 /tmp # ls –version
ls (GNU coreutils) 8.4
Copyright (C) 2010 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later .
This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it.
There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.
Written by Richard M. Stallman and David MacKenzie.
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4 Abdi March 1, 2013 at 5:14 am

I love your website – Keep up the good work!

Linux / Unix: Rsync Copy Hidden Dot Files and Directories Only

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