How to download files in terminal to local machine

SSH is the most secure protocol for accessing remote servers. It provides the highest level of end to end data security over communication channels. The SCP (Secure Copy) command uses the SSH protocol for copying files between remote and local servers.

The remote server must have running SSH server. This tutorial will help you to understand download and upload file over SSH protocol.

Download file using SSH

This will connect to example.com server with user “username” and copy the /backup/file.zip file to local system directory /local/dir. To use theis command replace the values as per your environment.

If the SSH is running on non-standard port, You can specify the port using option with SCP command.

If your remote server required the private key to connect server, You can use followed by private key file path to connect your server using the SCP command. This can be helpful for AWS servers.

Upload file using SSH

You can also upload files to the remote server using SSH protocol using SCP command. Use the following example command for uploading files to SSH server.

Similarity you can use -P switch to define port of the SSH server and -i to define private key for the user authentication.