rsync: Not Iterating Sub-Directories - Modify Timestamp?

Rsync: Not Iterating Sub-Directories and Modifying Timestamp

Rsync is a powerful tool used for copying and synchronizing files and directories remotely as well as locally in Linux/Unix systems. It offers a variety of options to customize its behavior according to specific needs. This article will focus on the global topic of rsync, specifically addressing the issue of not iterating sub-directories and modifying the timestamp of a target directory.

Understanding Rsync

Rsync is a command-line tool that synchronizes files and directories from one location to another. It uses a delta-transfer algorithm that reduces the amount of data sent over the network by sending only the differences between the source and destination files. This makes it an efficient tool for backups and mirroring of data.

The Problem: Iterating Sub-Directories and Modifying Timestamp

By default, rsync iterates through all sub-directories of the source directory and updates the timestamp of the target directory after the synchronization process. This behavior can be problematic in certain scenarios, such as when you want to synchronize only the top-level directory and preserve the timestamp of the target directory.

Solution: Excluding Sub-Directories and Preserving Timestamp

To solve this problem, you can use the following rsync command:

This command uses the following options:

• -a: Archive mode, which preserves symbolic links, permissions, timestamps, and other file attributes.
• --no-perms: Ignores permissions.
• --no-owner: Ignores owner.
• --no-group: Ignores group.
• --exclude='*/': Excludes all sub-directories.

With this command, rsync will only synchronize the top-level directory and preserve the timestamp of the target directory. The --no-perms, --no-owner, and --no-group options are used to prevent rsync from updating the permissions, ownership, and group of the target directory.

Additional Considerations

When using this command, keep in mind the following considerations:

• The target directory must exist before running the command.
• The command does not delete files in the target directory that do not exist in the source directory.
• The command does not update the timestamps of the files in the target directory.

Rsync is a powerful tool for synchronizing files and directories, but its default behavior of iterating sub-directories and modifying the timestamp of the target directory can be problematic in certain scenarios. By using the --exclude option and disabling permission, ownership, and group updates, you can synchronize only the top-level directory and preserve the timestamp of the target directory.

References

• Rsync Manual
• Rsync ManpageZ
• Rsync SS64