Is rsync copying over the entire file? Sent bytes matches actual file size.

[Paul Slootman]

On Wed 29 Oct 2008, Administrator wrote:

> Thank you for that. I added the --no-whole-file switch and that has
> sorted it.

Note that rsync's behaviour is for a reason: when doing a local transfer
(i.e. not over a network) doing an incremental transfer will be slower
due to more I/O being necessary. So "sorting it" may not be what you
want.

> Now I have another couple of questions.
> 
> Question 1:
> 
> I am using version 2.6.6 which shows this no whole file option in the
> man page: 
> 
> -W, --whole-file            copy files whole (without rsync algorithm)
>     --no-whole-file         always use incremental rsync algorithm
> 
> But someone else has a newer version (3.0.4) and the man page doesn't
> show this option, only the -W switch:
> 
>  -W, --whole-file            copy files whole (without delta-xfer
> algorithm)
> 
> But the --no-whole-file switch does work. So it is an option but not
> documented in the man page.

>From the manpage:

       --no-OPTION
            You may turn off one or more implied options  by  prefixing
            the option  name with “no-”.  ...

> Question 2:
> 
> The time taken to run the command is the same with or without the
> switch. Why is this? I would expect the command with the no whole file
> switch to run faster as it only has to transfer a portion of the entire
> file.

Are you restoring the unmodified file between runs?


Paul