[ubuntu-uk] Help needed with ssh

[Neil Greenwood]

2009/7/15 John Matthews <jakewc2 at sky.com>:
> Hi, thank you for your message. So as I understand it then, if I have a
> folder on the desktop called title, that is called a directory then yes?
> I wanted to copy that folder to the home directory.
>
> So what is the difference between scp and cp ~r

Others have explained the difference between the commands, but I just
wanted to point something out that may cause more confusion. It might
just be a typo, but you used a ~ (tilde) in your question, where Sean
used a - (minus or hyphen).

Using a hyphen marks the next group of characters as an option to
change the behaviour of the command you are using. Using a tilde
refers to a user's home directory, and you'll get some strange error
messages!

You can also use the -r option on the scp command to copy a directory
and its contents.

> I really am not getting it, its very confusing. This page is showing two
> different ways of copying. I am more confused now.
>
> I need to find a night school, so I can get somebody to show me, this is
> just not working.

A LUG would also help, and is probably free (as in cost) too!

This is the sort of situation where it will take about 10 weeks by
email/mailing list to tell you as much about the command line as can
be demonstrated in 10 minutes with two people at one PC!

LUGs are friendly and most welcome new members, so it's definitely
worth looking for one near you.

> I have never felt so frustrated in all my life as I have since trying to
> learn Linux. I used to be an Intensive Care nurse, and I never found it
> as hard as this. It was intense, but not as hard to work out what to do.

You were probably in the same room as the person who trained you to be
an Intensive Care nurse. The fact that you're not in the same room as
us lot trying to teach you how to use the command line makes a big
difference.

Don't give up!

Cofion/Regards,
Neil.