Preserving File Date Attributes

[Bill Brutzman]

When copying source-code files from server-to-server, it would be great if the date that the files were originally created could be preserved.

Of course, if I just brute-force rcp the files, the destination copied files will have today's date.

Suggestions would be appreciated.

[James R. Ferguson · Accepted solution]

Hi Bill:

Simply add the '-p' option to your 'rcp'.

Regards!

...JRF...

[Peter Nikitka]

Hi Bill,

note that a 'rcp -p' will possibly not only preserve the timestamp but the owner, group and access mode as well (permissions granted). The scp-command will handle that option the same way.

There is no option to get an identical timestamp only; further processing is required.

mfG Peter

[Coolmar]

I though -p will preserve the timestamp? From the man pages:

-p Preserve (duplicate) modification times and modes(permissions) of source files, ignoring the current setting of the umask file creation mode mask. If this option is specified, rcp preserves the sticky bit only if the target user is superuser.

[Peter Nikitka]

Hi Coolmar,

>> -p Preserve (duplicate) modification times and modes(permissions)
<<

look at this:
and modes(permissions)
!

mfG Peter

[Bill Brutzman]

Thanks to those who responded.