cp command is mainly used to copy files and directories, the same time with some options, you can achieve (intact) to copy the entire directory
Options:
- -a: equivalent to -d, -p, -r option of the set, these options we introduced one by one;
- -d: If the source file is a soft link (hard link does not work), then copy the target file is also soft link;
- -i: ask, if the target file already exists, you are asked whether to overwrite;
- -l: the establishment of the target file hard-linked files as source files rather than copy the source files;
- -s: the establishment of the target file for the source file soft link files instead of copying the source file;
- -p: After you copy the target file to retain the properties of the source file (including the owner, owning group, permissions, and time);
- -r: recursive copy, for copying directories;
- -u: If the target file has differences than the source file, use this option to update the target file, this option can be used to upgrade and file backup.