RSync is a widely used free software utility for Unix and Linux systems. This tool is designed for fast and incremental file transfer to ensure that a minimal amount of data is sent across the network by only transferring changed parts or blocks from the source files to the destination files. Here is a simple step-by-step guide on how to install Rsync on an Ubuntu system.
Before you install any software, it’s always a good idea to update the existing list of packages. Run the following command in the terminal:
```
sudo apt update
```
After updating your package list, you will be ready to install Rsync. Use the apt package manager for the installation. Input the following command:
```
sudo apt install rsync
```
You may be prompted to confirm the installation by typing “Y” or “N”. If you agree, type “Y” and then hit enter.
The installation process should then begin, and as per the Ubuntu documentation, you will see some output that looks like this:
```
Reading package lists… Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information… Done
The following NEW packages will be installed:
rsync
0 upgraded, 1 newly installed, 0 to remove and 26 not upgraded.
Need to get 271 kB of archives.
After this operation, 671 kB of additional disk space will be used.
Get:1 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic/main amd64 rsync amd64 3.1.2-2ubuntu1 [271 kB]
Fetched 271 kB in 1s (336 kB/s)
```
Once the installation process is finished, you should verify your installation with the following command:
```
rsync —version
```
If Rsync was successfully installed, you will observe a result that looks something like:
```
rsync version 3.1.2 protocol version 31
Copyright © 1996-2015 by Andrew Tridgell, Wayne Davison, and others.
Web site: http://rsync.samba.org/
.
.
.
```
This tutorial was based on information from the official Ubuntu documentation (https://help.ubuntu.com/lts/serverguide/rsync.html), Digital Ocean’s tutorials (https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-use-rsync-to-sync-local-and-remote-directories-on-a-vps), and TecMint (https://www.tecmint.com/rsync-local-remote-file-synchronization-commands/).
It’s necessary to understand that although Rsync is an incredibly powerful tool, it might not be the ideal solution for all use cases. This is particularly accurate when handling large files in which a small section of the file changes. It’s always crucial to assess your specific needs and requirements to identify the best tools and methods for your situation.
