How to copy file from PC to BeagleBone with SSH

Ninja,

If you're doing this from Windows, I've found the easiest is to use WinSCP, that stands for Secure CoPy.  I've used WinSCP to send files to an FTP server running on Linux.

Rather than remembering all the steps, I suggest reading through this description.  It covers it in good detail, including installing what you need:

https://marcclifton.wordpress.com/2015/12/04/setting-up-beaglebone-black-with-debian-and-ssh-with-windows/

He also uses PuTTY on Windows to establish a ssh connection.

And I feel compelled to admit I usually do "sneakernet", for one-time copies.  Copy files to USB flash drive, walk it over to beaglebone, copy files.

Hi Trent,

To copy a file via SSH I usually use scp (PSCP on WIndows). The command syntax is straighforward:

pscp <path_to_the_source_file_to_copy>  <user>@<destination_host>:<absolute_path_to_the_destination>

In your case,  the user is debian, and the absolute path to the destination should point to a directory that the user debian has write permission  for (somewhere inside the user home directory /home/debian is safe).

I hope this helps,

Fabio

Hi Allen,

I have connected to the BeagleBone Blue by ssh with PuTTY using "debian" and "temppwd". I've also logged in with PSFTP (ftp program similar to WinSCP) using the default user and pass. I received a permission denied message when trying to move files from pc to the  /usr/bin/ directory and the /boot/dtbs/. I can try WinSCP but it seems like there would be similar results.

Trent

Hi Fabio,

Does this need to be typed in Windows Command Prompt?

pscp <path_to_the_source_file_to_copy>  <user>@<destination_host>:<absolute_path_to_the_destination>

Trent

Hi Trent,

Yes, it does. Make sure that the system path includes the path to the pscp.exe file (or you can just cd into the directory containing the executable before executing the command)

From your earlier reply to Allen, I suspect it is a file permission problem. To copy or move anything in the /usr/bin and /boot/dtbs directories you need root privileges. Perhaps you can try copying the files in the debian user home directory first, then log into the BeagleBone and copy the files to their final destination using sudo.

Fabio

Hi Trent,

Hopefully you've solved it with all the excellent solutions above, otherwise for some examples of the syntax for the method Fabio mentions, see here in the "Transferring Files" section:

Accessing and Controlling the Pi

(It says Pi, but the process is identical for any Linux machine).

Also the USB "sneakernet" : ) method that Allen mentions is sometimes the easiest.

Hi Shabaz,

These suggestions did work. The file was transferred to the Beagle's /home/debian folder with PSFTP. WinSCP worked as well. I will have to start over. I've made quite a few previous mistakes. Fresh image on the microSD, I will get it right his time...maybe

Hi Fabio,

This is correct. Thank you for the help. The files required sudo sed permission to be moved. I've made so many mistakes on this image.

I am going to start over with a fresh image on the microSD.

Trent