--existing only update files that already exist
--ignore-existing ignore files that already exist on receiver
--delete delete files that don't exist on sender
- --delete-after receiver deletes after transfer, not before
+ --delete-before receiver deletes before xfer, not during
+ --delete-after receiver deletes after transfer, not during
--delete-excluded also delete excluded files on receiver
--ignore-errors delete even if there are I/O errors
--force force deletion of dirs even if not empty
if the files haven't actually changed, you're much better off using -t).
dit(bf(-O, --omit-dir-times)) This tells rsync to omit directories when
-the preserving of modification times is enabled (see --times). If NFS
-is sharing the files on the receiving end, it is a good idea to use -O.
+it is preserving modification times (see --times). If NFS is sharing
+the directories on the receiving side, it is a good idea to use -O.
dit(bf(-n, --dry-run)) This tells rsync to not do any file transfers,
instead it will just report the actions it would have taken.
sending side causing a massive deletion of files on the
destination. You can override this with the --ignore-errors option.
-dit(bf(--delete-after)) By default rsync does file deletions on the
-receiving side before transferring files to try to ensure that there is
-sufficient space on the receiving filesystem. If you want to delete
-after transferring, use the --delete-after switch. Implies --delete.
-
-One reason to use --delete-after is to avoid a delay before the start of
-the transfer (while the receiving side is scanned for deletions) as this
-delay might cause the transfer to timeout.
+Beginning with 2.6.4, rsync does file deletions on the receiving side
+incrementally as each directory is being transferred (which makes the
+transfer more efficient than a separate delete pass before or after the
+transfer). If you are sending files to an older rsync, --delete will
+behave as --delete-before (see below). See also --delete-after.
+
+dit(bf(--delete-before)) Request that the file-deletions on the receving
+side be done prior to starting the transfer, not incrementally as the
+transfer happens. Implies --delete.
+
+One reason to use --delete-before is if the filesystem is tight for space
+and removing extraneous files would help to make the transfer possible.
+However, it does introduce a delay before the start of the transfer (while
+the receiving side is being scanned for deletions) and this delay might
+cause the transfer to timeout.
+
+dit(bf(--delete-after)) Request that the file-deletions on the receving
+side be done after the transfer has completed, not incrementally as the
+transfer happens. Implies --delete.
dit(bf(--delete-excluded)) In addition to deleting the files on the
receiving side that are not on the sending side, this tells rsync to also