Can rsync copy directories over links

Question

I have the following scenario where I need to copy directories which sometimes can be links and sometimes a directory with the same name. For instance, suppose this is the initial setup:

Source: /workspace/test/source/dir1 -> /tmp/test1

Destination: /workspace/test/dest/dir1 -> /tmp/test1

Now, suppose I remove the link in the source and create a folder with the same name, so now it looks like this:

Source: /workspace/test/source/dir1

Destination: /workspace/test/dest/dir1 -> /tmp/test1

What I'd like to do now, is to use rsync to copy the actual folder and "overwrite" the link, so it would look like:

Source: /workspace/test/source/dir1

Destination: /workspace/test/dest/dir1

Is there any way to do it via rsync? I know that if I use the rsync one level above, ie /workspace/test/source, it will work. Unfortunetly, I have to use the lowest level rsync.

Appreciate your response.

Answer 1

This is the default behaviour of rsync.

Example

## Preamble
$ cd /tmp
$ mkdir src dst stuff
$ touch stuff/{a,b,c}
$ ( cd src && ln -s /tmp/stuff dir1 )
$ ( cd dst && ln -s /tmp/stuff dir1 )

## Symlinks are retained
$ cd /tmp
$ rsync -avv src/ dst/

## Change scenario
$ ls -l src
$ rm src/dir1 && cp -a /tmp/stuff src/dir1

## Symlinks are replaced according to the source
$ cd /tmp
$ rsync -avv src/ dst/
$ ls -l dst