reference/cli/admin_utilities/hawqscp.html.md.erb

---
title: hawq scp
---

Copies files between multiple hosts at once.

## <a id="topic1__section2"></a>Synopsis

``` pre
hawq scp -f <hostfile_hawqssh> | -h <hostname> [-h <hostname> ...] 
    [--ignore-bad-hosts] [-J <character>] [-r] [-v] 
    [[<user>@]<hostname>:]<file_to_copy> [...]
    [[<user>@]<hostname>:]<copy_to_path>

hawq scp -? 

hawq scp --version
```

## <a id="topic1__section3"></a>Description

The `hawq scp` utility allows you to copy one or more files from the specified hosts to other specified hosts in one command using SCP (secure copy). For example, you can copy a file from the HAWQ master host to all of the segment hosts at the same time.

To specify the hosts involved in the SCP session, use the `-f` option to specify a file containing a list of host names, or use the `-h` option to name single host names on the command-line. At least one host name (`-h`) or a host file (`-f`) is required. The `-J` option allows you to specify a single character to substitute for the *hostname* in the `copy from` and `copy to` destination strings. If `-J` is not specified, the default substitution character is an equal sign (`=`). For example, the following command will copy `.bashrc` from the local host to `/home/gpadmin` on all hosts named in `hostfile_gpssh`:

``` shell
$ hawq scp -f hostfile_hawqssh .bashrc =:/home/gpadmin
```

If a user name is not specified in the host list or with *user*`@` in the file path, `hawq scp` will copy files as the currently logged in user. To determine the currently logged in user, invoke the `whoami` command. By default, `hawq scp` copies to `$HOME` of the session user on the remote hosts after login. To ensure the file is copied to the correct location on the remote hosts, use absolute paths.

Before using `hawq scp`, you must have a trusted host setup between the hosts involved in the SCP session. You can use the utility `hawq ssh-exkeys` to update the known host files and exchange public keys between hosts if you have not done so already.

## <a id="topic1__section9"></a>Arguments
<dt>-f \<hostfile\_hawqssh\>  </dt>
<dd>Specifies the name of a file that contains a list of hosts that will participate in this SCP session. The syntax of the host file is one host per line as follows:

``` pre
<hostname>
```
</dd>

<dt>-h \<hostname\>  </dt>
<dd>Specifies a single host name that will participate in this SCP session. You can use the `-h` option multiple times to specify multiple host names.</dd>

<dt>\<file\_to\_copy\>  </dt>
<dd>The name (or absolute path) of a file or directory that you want to copy to other hosts (or file locations). This can be either a file on the local host or on another named host.</dd>

<dt>\<copy\_to\_path\>  </dt>
<dd>The path where you want the file(s) to be copied on the named hosts. If an absolute path is not used, the file will be copied relative to `$HOME` of the session user. You can also use the equal sign '`=`' (or another character that you specify with the `-J` option) in place of a \<hostname\>. This will then substitute in each host name as specified in the supplied host file (`-f`) or with the `-h` option.</dd>

## <a id="topic1__section4"></a>Options

<dt>
-\\\-ignore-bad-hosts 
</dt>
<dd>
Overrides copying configuration files to a host on which SSH validation fails. If SSH to a skipped host is reestablished, make sure the files are re-synched once it is reachable.
</dd>

<dt>-J \<character\>  </dt>
<dd>The `-J` option allows you to specify a single character to substitute for the \<hostname\> in the `copy from` and `copy               to` destination strings. If `-J` is not specified, the default substitution character is an equal sign (`=`).</dd>


<dt>-v (verbose mode)  </dt>
<dd>Reports additional messages in addition to the SCP command output.</dd>

<dt>-r (recursive mode)  </dt>
<dd>If \<file\_to\_copy\> is a directory, copies the contents of \<file\_to\_copy\> and all subdirectories.</dd>

<dt>-? (help)  </dt>
<dd>Displays the online help.</dd>

<dt>-\\\-version  </dt>
<dd>Displays the version of this utility.</dd>

## <a id="topic1__section5"></a>Examples

Copy the file named `installer.tar` to `/` on all the hosts in the file `hostfile_hawqssh`.

``` shell
$ hawq scp -f hostfile_hawqssh installer.tar =:/
```

Copy the file named *myfuncs.so* to the specified location on the hosts named `sdw1` and `sdw2`:

``` shell
$ hawq scp -h sdw1 -h sdw2 myfuncs.so =:/usr/local/-db/lib
```

## See Also

[hawq ssh](hawqssh.html#topic1), [hawq ssh-exkeys](hawqssh-exkeys.html#topic1)