Comparing two directories

[Waqar Razi]

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

[Steven Schweda]

Define "remote".

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

[Patrick Wallek]

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.

[Waqar Razi]

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

[James R. Ferguson]

Hi Wagar:

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

Regards!

...JRF...

[Jared Middleton]

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.

[avizen9]

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

[Dennis Handly]

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

[Mike Stroyan]

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.

[B. Hulst]

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.