bash: /usr/local/bin/rsync: Argument list too long

[Mark Watts]

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> I get this error when I try to copy a directory with a lot of files:
> "bash: /usr/local/bin/rsync: Argument list too long"
>
> The exact command is: "/usr/local/bin/rsync -rsh=/usr/bin/rsh -r
> --delete --perms --owner --group /mail/spool/imap/user/wex/*
> root at 192.168.250.68:/mail/spool/imap/user/wex".
>
> BUT, if I try tris command it works: "/usr/local/bin/rsync
> -rsh=/usr/bin/rsh -r --delete --perms --owner --group
> /mail/spool/imap/user/* root at 192.168.250.68:/mail/spool/imap/user/wex".
>
> So I see that rsync does not copies the files if in the root of the
> source directory are too many files. But if they are too meny files in
> any oter directory in works.
>
> I need the first command to work.
> How can I do this?
>
> Thank you.

Your shell is expanding the * to create an argument list that is too long.
It's an issue with your shell, not rsync.

- -- 
Mark Watts
Senior Systems Engineer
QinetiQ Trusted Information Management
Trusted Solutions and Services group
GPG Public Key ID: 455420ED

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