Have the need to transfer files from one server to another, but don’t know how to realize this goal? Don’t worry! This is now a command demand of many users, and why this article is generated.
In this article, you will get 3 helpful ways, and all of them can help you out of this trouble. Then, let’s have a closer look in the following.
Method 1: Connect FTP server and copy files from one server to another in Windows
To transfer files between 2 Windows servers, the traditional way is to use FTP desktop app as a middle-man. However, no FTP server is installed on most of the Windows Dedicated Servers by default. But you can use another way to transfer files using FTP.
In Windows 10, you can use File Explorer to add network location to your local computer and then manually move files from or to it. In Windows Server, you can use Remote Desktop feature to achieve the same goal. Without further ado, let’s get started, taking Windows 10 as an example.
1. Open File Explorer, select This PC, then right-click the blank space and choose “Add a network location”.
2. In the new pop-up window, click “Choose a custom network location” to move on.
3. Then, type the ftp server address and the form is ftp://server.com. Then, you will be asked to type username and password if your server has one. If not, check “Log on anonymously” for limited access.
4. Type a name you like or easy to remember. Later, you will see the FTP site under the Network locations link in This PC.
5. Copy and paste files or folders from this server, or to it.
Method 2: Transfer files between two servers with SCP
As you know, SCP is based on SSH, so you need an SSH key or password for authentication on the remote systems. And all the files and passwords are encrypted, so it will be quite safe. And you don’t need to log into the system while using SCP.
Note: The SCP will overwrite files without warning if both of them have the same name and location on two systems, whether local or remote.
Then, get details below.
In the first place, learn the SCP command syntax.
The basic one: scp [OPTIONS] [SOURCE] [DESTINATION]. If either of the path is on the remote system, please add the server address (@:) first.
Then, open command prompt in Windows 10, transfer files with the following syntax and replace the parameters with your own.
1. To transfer file or directory from local system to remote, the syntax are sequently:
scp [file_path] [user]@[remote_host]:[remote_dir]
scp -r [local_dir] [user]@[remote_host]:[remote_dir]
2. To copy file from remote server to local machine, the syntax are respectively:
scp [user]@[remote_host]:[remote_file_path] [local_dir]
scp -r [user]@[remote_host]:[remote_dir] [local_dir]
3. To transfer file between two remote servers ( passwords required for both system), the syntax is:
scp [user]@[remote_host]:[remote_file_path] [user]@[remote_host]:[remote_dir]
Notes ✎…
• [user] refers to username of remote server.
• [remote_host] means the address of remote server, either IP address or domain name.
• [file_path] is path of local file.
• [remote_file_path] refers to path of files on the remote system.
• [local_dir] means path of directory on local system.
• [remote_dir] is the path of directory on remote server.
• -r stands for recursive, an option of SCP, used when copy directory.
Method 3: Transfer files from server to server with file sync software (Easier )
FTP and SCP are helpful way if you want to transfer files from local to remote and vice versa. If you use SCP, it still can transfer files between two remote servers. But both of them requires human intervention and the later one is error prone. Thus, if you don’t want to copy files from one server to another server in Windows manually, using a professional file sync software — AOMEI Backupper Server may be a better choice. Below are some advantages of it:
- Four sync solutions: It supports Basic Sync, Real-Time Sync, Mirror Sync, Two-Way Sync.
- Schedule Sync: It supports Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Event Trigger, USB Plug in feature. So you can automatically transfer files between Windows Server with the help of this feature.
- Wake the computer to run scheduled task: This will be helpful when you enable schedule sync, it can wake your computer 2 minutes from sleep or hibernate mode before the scheduled task start.
- Preconfigure the operation after scheduled task: It allows you to shutdown, restart, or make your computer sleep or hibernate.
- Various Windows system: Windows Server 2003/2008(R2)/2012(R2)/2016(R2)/2019/2022 and Windows 11/10/8/7/XP/Vista are supported.
With its intuitive user interface, you can easily complete the file sync task. And it’s very useful for users who don’t want to sync files manually every time or have large amounts of files need to synchronize. Below are the simple steps to transfer files from server to server.
1. Download AOMEI Backupper Server and install it. Then, launch this software and click “Sync” and “Basic Sync” subsequently.
2. Click “+ Add Folder” to select the files or folders on the local computer you want to sync.
After that, add your server as a network location and select a target path by clicking the inverted triangle > “Select a network location” >”Add Share or NAS Devices”, and typing the required information in the next window.
3. To automatically sync files, click “Schedule” and select daily/weekly/monthly. Also, you can sync files during system shutdown with the help of “Event triggers”. After that, click “Start Sync” to transfer files to from server to server.
Conclusion
To transfer files from server to server, you have 3 methods, including FTP for Windows 7/8/10/11, SCP for command line, AOMEI Backupper for all Windows system. Please read carefully and then pick one of them to transfer your files.
Honestly, using AOMEI Backupper to copy files from server to server is the easiest way. Its user-friendly interface and simple steps, schedule sync, wake the computer to run scheduled tasks etc help you not only transfer files, but also make it automatic, greatly reducing the duplication of work that comes with manual backup.
Except for sync, it still allows you backup your server regularly, so you can recover data in the event of a disaster. And it adds an extra layer of your files by compressing all the files into an image file. In this case, you can only access pr use your files by restoring first. For IT technician, you could use AOMEI Backupper Tech Plus to protect unlimited servers and PCs.
