Run scp in background

Problem Description

Run scp in background

Solution

scp as a background process

To execute any linux command in background we use nohup as follows:

$ nohup SOME_COMMAND &

But the problem with scp command is that it prompts for the password (if password authentication is used). So to make scp execute as a background process do this:

$ nohup scp file_to_copy user@server:/path/to/copy/the/file > nohup.out 2>&1

Then press ctrl + z which will temporarily suspend the command, then enter the command:

$ bg

This will start executing the command in backgroud

nohup scp /mnt/hd/p1/19/5/* ubuntu@182.254.132.226:/storage/data/xiancai3/ > nohup.out 2>&1