SFTP Get Command: A Complete Guide

The Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) provides a reliable method to transfer files between a local system and remote server. Among its various commands, sftp get stands as one of the most essential tools for downloading files from remote systems to your local machine. This article explores how to effectively use the sftp get command to transfer remote files securely.

Understanding SFTP Connections

Before using the sftp get command, you need to establish an SFTP connection to a remote server. This typically requires SSH access credentials:

sftp username@remote_server

Once connected, the sftp prompt will appear, indicating you're ready to transfer files. For servers using a custom SSH port, you can specify it during connection:

sftp -P 2222 username@remote_server

Basic Usage of SFTP Get

The fundamental syntax for downloading a file is:

get remote_file [local_path]

This command transfers a file from the remote server to your local machine. If you don't specify a local path, the file will download to your local working directory with the same name. Example:

sftp> get documents/report.txt

This retrieves the report.txt file from the remote directory and saves it to your current local directory.

Advanced SFTP Get Usage

Downloading Multiple Files To transfer multiple files at once, use the mget command with wildcards:

mget *.txt

This downloads all txt files from the current remote directory to your local system. Specifying Directories You can specify both remote directory and local directory paths:

get /var/www/data/config.txt /home/user/backups/

This command downloads the remote file at the specified file path to your designated local directory. Preserving File Permissions By default, downloaded files adopt permissions based on your local umask. To preserve the original permissions:

get -p important_script.sh

The -p flag maintains the remote file's permissions on your local machine.

Managing Your SFTP Session

While downloading files, you might need to navigate both remote and local environments:

pwd - Display current remote directory

lpwd - Show current local directory

cd path - Change remote directory

lcd path - Change local directory

Example Workflow:

sftp> cd /var/data

sftp> lcd ~/Downloads

sftp> get database_backup.sql

This sequence navigates to a specific directory on the remote system, sets your local download folder, and transfers the file.

Practical Applications

The sftp get command can be scripted to regularly download backup files from a remote server:

#!/bin/bash

sftp user@remote_server << EOF

get /var/backups/daily_backup.tar.gz /home/user/backups/

exit

EOF

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Permission Denied If you encounter access issues:

Verify your SSH keys are properly configured

Check local file permissions

Ensure you have read permissions on the remote file

Connection Problems For connection difficulties:

Confirm the remote server address

Verify network connectivity

Check if the remote system's firewall allows SFTP

Advanced Features

Display Transfer Statistics Use the -S flag to display statistics about your file transfer:

get -S large_archive.zip

Resume Interrupted Transfers

For large files, the -a flag allows resuming an interrupted download:

get -a huge_dataset.tar.gz

Security Considerations

Since SFTP operates over a secure connection, your data remains protected during transfer. However, best practices include:

Using SSH keys instead of passwords

Regularly updating your client

Limiting access to sensitive files on both local and remote systems

Conclusion

The sftp get command provides a powerful and secure method to transfer files from remote servers to your local machine. Whether you're downloading a single txt file or retrieving multiple files, understanding the nuances of this command will significantly enhance your file maintenance workflows. By mastering the various options and techniques described above, you'll be able to efficiently manage file transfers between systems while maintaining security and data integrity.