Rsync is a Linux command-line tool that allows one to transfer files either to or from a remote host (but not between two remote hosts). The user can transfer single files or multiple files matching a pattern. In this article, I will first introduce rsync and its use in Linux, then I'll point out a method using rsync that replicates the backup process found in Apple Mac platforms called Time-Machine Backup.

Rsync is a fast and extraordinarily versatile file copying tool. It can copy locally, to/from another host over any remote shell, or to/from a remote rsync daemon. It offers a large number of options that control every aspect of its behavior and permit very flexible specification of the set of files to be copied. It is famous for its delta-transfer algorithm, which reduces the amount of data sent over the network by sending only the differences between the source files and the existing files in the destination.