> I have a copy job, using SCP, which simply copies files [...]

   Not a very detailed description of anything.

> [...] I am wondering why the difference? [...]

   With my weak psychic powers, I am wondering exactly what you did, and
what, exactly, "files" comprises.

> [...] Is it even possible to compare the two, given they are on
> different operating systems with different filesystem types?

   If the copies of your files are not comparable with the original
files, then of what use are the copies?  Bits are bits, aren't they?

   As usual, showing actual commands with their actual output can be
more helpful than vague descriptions or interpretations.  Many things
are possible.  Lacking any useful information, I'll offer one guess.  If
two of the source "files" are actually two links to the same file, then
SCP will not know this, and will copy each one.  Two copies of the data
tend to be larger than one.

   Depending on what you're really trying to do (also a mystery), it may
make more sense to use a program like "tar" to pack and unpack the
"files", rather than SCP.  I'd expect "tar" to have a better chance of
handing links correctly than SCP.

   Aside from looking at "du" and "ls -l" output, you might try copying
one file instead of many, or copying the "files" back to the source
system, so that you might be able to see what's different.


> Hello Guru's,

   Why the apostrophe?  Do you have a 'surplu's of them?