Using rlogin and rcp to Copy a Remote File to a Local System

In this example, the rcp operation is run after the rlogin command is executed to copy a file from a remote to a local system. Although the flow of the operation is the same as that of the previous example, the paths change to allow for the remote login:

earth(/home/smith): rlogin pluto
.
.
.
pluto(/home/jones): rcp letter.doc ~

Using the “.” symbol at the end of the command line would be inappropriate in this instance. Because of the remote login, the symbol would simply refer to the remote system—essentially directing rcp to create a duplicate file. The “~” symbol, however, refers to the current user's home directory, even when the login is to a remote system.