Rsync Backup from VPS to Local (with Exclusions)

Command

rsync -avz -e "ssh -p 2222" \
  --exclude='node_modules' \
  --exclude='vendor' \
  --exclude='.env' \
  user@vps:/path/app/ /home/youruser/backup/app/

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Explanation

Basic flags

• -a → archive mode (preserve permissions, symlinks, etc.)
• -v → verbose (show progress)
• -z → compress during transfer (faster over network)
• -e "ssh -p 2222" → use SSH with custom port

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Excluded folders/files

• node_modules

  • Large, can be reinstalled (npm install)

• vendor

  • PHP dependencies, can be restored (composer install)

• .env

  • Contains secrets (DB, API keys)

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Notes

Why exclude dependencies

• Reduce backup size
• Faster transfer
• Rebuildable from lock files (package-lock.json, composer.lock)

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About .env

• Excluded by default (recommended)

  • Avoid leaking credentials

• If needed for full restore:

  • Backup separately
  • Store securely (encrypted or private location)

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Result

• Clean backup of app source code
• Smaller size
• Faster sync
• Safer (no secrets included)