Transfer files over SSH with a simple, secure command-line client. 02.05.2026 | reading time: 2 min When a Linux admin needs to move files securely, he reaches for sftp; it provides an interactive, scriptable file-transfer session over SSH and avoids the cleartext risks of FTP. Quick session example A simple scenario: he connects to a remote host, lists files, downloads one, uploads another, and exits; for clarity the session looks like this: ```sftp user@server.example.com Connected to server.example.com. sftp> ls remote.txt sftp> get remote.txt Fetching /home/user/remote.txt to remote.txt sftp> put local.log /var/log/remote.log Uploading local.log to /var/log/remote.log sftp> bye ``` Authentication and common options Key-based auth is preferable to passwords; he can specify an identity file or SSH options at connect time, for example: ```sftp -oPort=2222 -i ~/.ssh/id_rsa user@server.example.com ``` and he can also use agent forwarding or SSH config entries to simplify repeated connections. Advanced transfers and scripting sftp supports batch mode and recursive transfers, so he can automate tasks with a command file like `batch.txt` and run `sftp -b batch.txt user@host`; the interactive client offers `get -r`, `put -r`, `reget`, `reput`, and remote file ops such as `chmod`, which help with resumable copies and scripted workflows. Tools that sit nearby When performance or features matter he looks to related tools: use scp for quick one-liners, rsync for efficient delta transfers and bandwidth control, and sshfs to mount a remote filesystem locally; graphical clients such as FileZilla provide a GUI alternative when needed. Next steps and certification Mastering sftp prepares him for secure file management tasks and automation; to deepen skills and validate knowledge he can pursue certifications like CompTIA Linux+ or LPIC-1 and consider intensive exam preparation at bitsandbytes.academy. Join Bits & Bytes Academy First class LINUX exam preparation. network security utilities backup storage
