Something Like Rsync, Except Only Filenames and Sizes are Transferred

[carlarogers]

I guess what I am looking for is list of the directory structure with filenames with filesize and last updated data, but without the actual files. It would a fast way toidentify the differences between two file system, without having to transfer the complete files to get the information.

 

[dos2unix]

tree directoryname

example:

tree /var/lib

 

[Fanboi]

with filesize

use the -h flag as per what @dos2unix suggested.

 

[osprey]

I guess what I am looking for is list of the directory structure with filenames with filesize and last updated data, but without the actual files. It would a fast way toidentify the differences between two file system, without having to transfer the complete files to get the information.

In addition to the suggestions above, one alternative is to set up two terminals side by side and run the relevant tree and rsync commands to get the relevant information.

Here is an example in an image:

The image shows two directory trees side by side which the eye can compare with respect to both the directory filesystems and the sizes of the files.

The two terminals in this case were used within the tmux program, but any two terminals that can be placed adjacent to each other will work.

The command tree -ah is used since the -a option includes all files including the dotfiles. A comparison of the two outputs shows in fact that the only differences occur in the dotfiles in this example.

If the rsync command is run with the --dry-run option, it will show the differences in the two filesystems but not make any changes, as shown in the second terminal output in the image.

 

[carlarogers]

tree directoryname

example:

tree /var/lib

I like those simple solutions built into a command I already use regularly. Thank you!

 

[carlarogers]

use the -h flag as per what @dos2unix suggested.

Thank you for adding the clarifying way of using -h flag with filesize

 

[carlarogers]

In addition to the suggestions above, one alternative is to set up two terminals side by side and run the relevant tree and rsync commands to get the relevant information.

Here is an example in an image:

View attachment 24337
The image shows two directory trees side by side which the eye can compare with respect to both the directory filesystems and the sizes of the files.

The two terminals in this case were used within the tmux program, but any two terminals that can be placed adjacent to each other will work.

The command tree -ah is used since the -a option includes all files including the dotfiles. A comparison of the two outputs shows in fact that the only differences occur in the dotfiles in this example.

If the rsync command is run with the --dry-run option, it will show the differences in the two filesystems but not make any changes, as shown in the second terminal output in the image.

I want to thank you immensely for providing not only an answer, but an excellent explanation of the answers you posted. I will definitely be using many of the suggestions everyone was so gracious to post to this thread. Please try to believe me when I tell you, my absence posting the question only means this functionality is for personal hobby work. My profession work. hardly has touched Linux since August 2022. That is kind of sad, because Linux wonderful and Windows is not.