Passing Password to SCP in Linux: Easy Steps

Introduction

When using SCP (Secure Copy Protocol) in Linux, it is common to encounter a prompt for a password. This can be inconvenient and time-consuming, especially when transferring multiple files. Fortunately, there are easy steps to pass your password to SCP so that you don't have to manually enter it every time.

Step 1: Create SSH Key Pair

To pass your password to SCP, you will need to create an SSH key pair. This can be done using the following command:

ssh-keygen -t rsa

This will generate a public and private key pair in the ~/.ssh directory. The private key should be kept secure and not shared with anyone.

Step 2: Copy Public Key to Remote Server

Next, you will need to copy the public key to the remote server that you want to transfer files to. This can be done using the following command:

ssh-copy-id user@remote_server

Replace "user" with your username and "remote_server" with the hostname or IP address of the remote server.

Step 3: Test SSH Connection

Before using SCP, it is important to test the SSH connection to ensure that it is working correctly. You can do this using the following command:

ssh user@remote_server

This should log you into the remote server without prompting for a password.

Step 4: Use SCP with Password Authentication

Finally, you can use SCP with password authentication by specifying the private key file with the -i option. For example:

scp -i /path/to/private_key_file local_file user@remote_server:/path/to/remote_directory

Replace "/path/to/private_key_file" with the path to your private key file and "local_file" with the file you want to transfer. Replace "user" with your username and "remote_server" with the hostname or IP address of the remote server. Replace "/path/to/remote_directory" with the directory on the remote server where you want to transfer the file.

Conclusion

Passing your password to SCP in Linux is easy with these simple steps. By creating an SSH key pair, copying the public key to the remote server, testing the SSH connection, and using SCP with password authentication, you can transfer files quickly and securely without having to manually enter your password every time.