Backup & Recovery (Rsync/Tar (Rsync/Tar/Dd))
Stop rsync from choking when your destination filesystem is full
🧩 The Challenge
Everyone hates that moment when an rsync job fails halfway through because you hit a hidden disk quota, and then you have to figure out exactly what made it over before the crash. Cleaning up partial transfers manually is a total nightmare that nobody asks for.
đź’ˇ The Fix
Use the rsync –partial-dir option to catch those incomplete file chunks in a safe place instead of leaving them in your live destination folder. It keeps your remote or backup directory clean while you fix your space issues.
rsync -av --partial --partial-dir=.rsync-partial source/ destination/⚙️ Why It Works
By default, rsync deletes partial files when interrupted, but by setting a dedicated partial directory, you keep the successfully received chunks available to resume next time. You save tons of time on massive file transfers when you do this.
🚀 Pro-Tip: Use –append-verify if you’re dealing with massive log files that won’t change but often get interrupted.
Linux Tips & Tricks | © ngelinux.com | 8/9/2026