RHEL Linux - Red Hat System Administration Practice Exam

The _____ command transfers files from a remote host to the local system or from the local system to a remote host.

1. >

2. cp

3. scp

4. mv

The correct answer is: scp

The command that transfers files between a remote host and a local system is the `scp` command, which stands for Secure Copy Protocol. This command is specifically designed for secure file transfer over SSH (Secure Shell), providing an encrypted method to transfer files both to and from a remote host. This means that when you use `scp`, you can specify the source and destination for files, allowing you to easily move files regardless of their location. The `scp` command is particularly useful for system administrators who need to move data securely across networks. The efficiency and encryption of `scp` make it an industry-standard tool for file transfers in secure environments. In contrast, the other commands serve different purposes: the `>` symbol is used for output redirection in shell commands, `cp` is for copying files locally within the same system without any network capabilities, and `mv` is used for moving or renaming files locally. These commands do not provide the functionality to transfer files between different machines over a network, which distinguishes `scp` as the correct choice in this scenario.