How to transfer large files between servers

For large files (archives, disk images, databases), speed and the ability to resume an interrupted transfer both matter.

scp: simple and fast

scp large-file.tar.gz root@SERVER_IP:/destination/

rsync: resume an interrupted transfer

Best for large files, because it can continue where it left off:

rsync -avz --partial --progress large-file.tar.gz root@SERVER_IP:/destination/

--partial keeps what was already transferred, so you resume without starting over.

Compress before transfer

tar czf data.tar.gz /directory
# then transfer the archive

Transfer via a Backup Box

You can upload the file to a Backup Box from one server and download it on another, useful when the servers do not talk directly. See mounting a Backup Box.

Hourly billing tip

With hourly billing you can temporarily start a more powerful server just for a massive transfer, then delete it.