5

This is my first time trying to work with Linux Scripts so this may be something obvious.

Here is what I am trying to do:

  1. Remove all contents from local folder - rm /home/user/Documents/Exercise/
  2. Copy files from a shared windows network drive - cp smb://server/arc/Exercise%20Files/Word/

So from my understanding my command should look like this

  rm /home/user/Documents/Exercise/
  cp smb://server/arc/Exercise%20Files/Word/ /home/user/Documents/Exercise/

But anytime I try and run either of the above commands I get the following error:

  "rm: cannot remove `/home/user/Documents/Exercise/': Is a directory"
  "cp: cannot stat `smb://server/arc/Exercise%20Files/Word/': No such file or directory"

What am I doing wrong?

Kind Regards,

M

EDIT:

I now have the rm function working yet am still troubled by the cp function. To ensure it is not an issue with the spaces in the folder names I have renamed the folders on the share so it now reads: //server/Arc/ExerciseFiles/*

I have mounted the folder so I (assume) no longer need the smb://. It currently reads: cp -rfv /home/user/Documents/ExerciseShare/ExerciseFiles/Word/ /home/user/Documents/Exercise/

M

2 Answers 2

4

No your commands should look like following

  rm -rfv /home/user/Documents/Exercise/*

because folder Exercise can have subdirectories

and in case of a samba share first you have to mount it locally

i.e.

mount -t smbfs smb://"server/arc/Exercise Files/Word/" /mnt 

and then do

 cp /mnt /home/user/Documents/Exercise/
6
  • if there are blank spaces in your directory names I feel they probably are causing the problem so you can do some thing like quoting the names in double quotes "" Mar 20, 2013 at 4:32
  • OP updated. rm command resolved thankyou. Still issues with cp.
    – Mitchell
    Mar 20, 2013 at 4:39
  • can you post exactly what are the error messages and what are the commands you execute for cp linuxnix.com/2009/09/… Mar 20, 2013 at 4:42
  • sudo apt-get install smbfs This will install the samba filesystem package on your system, simply re-run the mount command when you’ve got this package sirnet.co.uk/archives/114 Mar 20, 2013 at 4:46
  • I think it must have been the %20 in the originals. I restarted the machine and used the exact same command and it worked!
    – Mitchell
    Mar 20, 2013 at 4:47
2

You have to use the "minus r" flag or -r

rm -r

and

cp -r

This will copy or delete recursively into folders or files within files.

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .