Copy folder with symlinks

Question

How can I copy a folder that contains symlinks and retain the symlinks in the destination folder? I'm doing something like this with PHP/Bash:

system("cp -r production-clone-target production-sites/{$instanceName}");

but the symlinks do not appear in the destination folder.

Answer 1

Try adding the --preserve=links switch to your cp command.

From man cp:

    --preserve[=ATTR_LIST]
          preserve the specified attributes (default: mode,ownership,timestamps), 
if possible additional attributes: context, links,xattr, all

Edit: If under OS X; use cp -a.

Answer 2

You can use also rsync:

-l, --links                 copy symlinks as symlinks

I like -a, which also includes this one, to copy also sub-directories etc.

-a, --archive               archive mode; equals -rlptgoD (no -H,-A,-X)

So, in your code example you could do this:

system("rsync -a production-clone-target production-sites/{$instanceName}");

Answer 3

Setting aside the valid concerns about using system() in your PHP program:

cp may not have standardized options for doing this that are common to Linux and the BSDs, but pax has.

( cd source && pax -p p -r -w * destination/ )