topic Re: Comparing two directories in Operating System - Linux

Comparing two directories

Waqar Razi — Fri, 29 May 2009 16:58:07 GMT

Can some one please tell me how to compare two directories in Linux when one of the directories is remote?

Re: Comparing two directories

Steven Schweda — Fri, 29 May 2009 17:51:02 GMT

Define "remote".

What kind(s) of access do you have to the
"remote" system?

Re: Comparing two directories

Patrick Wallek — Fri, 29 May 2009 18:56:56 GMT

What do you want to compare in the directories? Do you want to compare the list of files in each directory? Or do you want to compare the contents of each file in the 2 directories?

A better definition of what you want is needed.

Re: Comparing two directories

Waqar Razi — Fri, 29 May 2009 19:00:52 GMT

Actually list of files in each directory and I want to know what files are missing.

Re: Comparing two directories

James R. Ferguson — Fri, 29 May 2009 20:58:20 GMT

Hi Wagar:

The same answer to your same question in HP-UX applies: See the 'diff' and 'comm' manpages.

Regards!

...JRF...

Re: Comparing two directories

Jared Middleton — Fri, 29 May 2009 22:33:42 GMT

There are tools out there to do it, but if you like doing it yourself...

You could create two temp files, first a listing of the local dir and second a listing of the remote dir, and then compare the two suing used 'diff'.

Or if you only want to show what file(s) are missing, perhaps just use 'rsync' with the -n, --dry-run to show what would have been transferred.

Re: Comparing two directories

avizen9 — Sat, 30 May 2009 04:11:29 GMT

i will use here diff command if i want to compare files /directory.

Re: Comparing two directories

Dennis Handly — Sat, 30 May 2009 13:59:07 GMT

Your HP-UX thread:
http://forums.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=1343815

Re: Comparing two directories

Mike Stroyan — Sat, 30 May 2009 15:11:55 GMT

The rsync command can do a good job of comparing and reporting differences.
Its primary job is copying files between systems.
But you can run it as an itemized dry run.
That will just find and report the necessary copying and deletions to make one directory match another one.
It will compare file's checksums and can be asked to compare permissions.

$ rsync -a --dry-run -i -p --del trial/ sys2:trial
.d..t...... D1/
*deleting D1/F2
.d..t...... D2/

Be very careful to use --dry-run unless you actually want to modify one directory to match the other.

Re: Comparing two directories

B. Hulst — Sat, 30 May 2009 19:44:57 GMT

But be aware the the r* commands (remote commands) are not accepted in all business situations due to the lower security they provide.

It might be wise to include your commands into a ssh command.