feature request: add -a to scp for archive-style copy

[Pekka Savola]

On Wed, 20 Feb 2002, Joe Harrington wrote:
> This is a feature request for scp.  scp has no easy option to copy
> symlinks, etc. to reproduce a directory tree.  The -r option follows
> symlinks and reads the data out of device files when copying.  A few
> years ago, the -a option was added to normal cp, replacing the
> cumbersome and arcane
> 
> (cd wherever1 ; tar cf - whatever) | (cd wherever2 ; tar xpf - )
> 
> with
> 
> cp -a wherever1/whatever wherever2
> 
> Adding a -a option to scp would likewise eliminate the need for the
> even more obscure but frequently-typed

I like this personally, but I doubt main OpenSSH people agree.. partially 
because BSD make doesn't support 'cp -a'.

-- 
Pekka Savola                 "Tell me of difficulties surmounted,
Netcore Oy                   not those you stumble over and fall"
Systems. Networks. Security.  -- Robert Jordan: A Crown of Swords