WinSCP — The Complete Guide: Moving Files to Servers, Compute Clusters and Controllers
WinSCP is an open-source graphical Windows program for transferring files between your computer and remote servers. Engineers use it to upload input files to compute clusters (HPC) and download results, and to work with controllers and embedded computers.
WinSCP
Martin Přikryl
SFTP and FTP client for Windows — move files to servers, HPC clusters and controllers, with sync and scripting.
Get it from the vendorWhat you get
- Many protocols — SFTP, SCP, FTP, FTPS, WebDAV and S3.
- Two-pane interface — your computer on the left, the server on the right, drag between them.
- Built-in editor — edit a file directly on the server.
- Folder synchronisation — only what changed is transferred.
- Scripting — automate repeated transfers.
Working with a cluster
Prepare the model on your computer, sync the input folder to the server, submit the run in a terminal, and when it finishes sync back only the results folder. With a script, all of that becomes a single command. The same way you upload configuration files to a field controller without a USB stick.
Related tools
For transfers to many cloud services from the command line — rclone. For syncing between computers in a team — Syncthing. For backup and folder comparison — FreeFileSync.
rclone
rclone project
Sync and copy files to 70+ cloud storage services from the command line, and mount cloud drives as local disks.
Get it from the vendor
Syncthing
Syncthing Foundation
Sync files directly between computers, with no cloud — identical project folders at the office, at home and on site.
Get it from the vendorFreeFileSync
FreeFileSync
Folder sync and backup — compares folders and copies only what changed, for backing up projects to an external drive.
Get it from the vendorLocalSend
LocalSend
Send files between phone and computer over the local network, with no cloud or cables — e.g. site photos straight to the PC.
Get it from the vendorThe bottom line
WinSCP is the convenient bridge between Windows and any server or controller. Open source and free for commercial use too.