Robocopy (Robust File Copy) is a command-line file copying tool included with the Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Resource Kit, free to licensed users of Windows. The tool, as with much of the resource kit, works under Windows XP as well as under the Windows Server platform.
What is Windows Server 2003 Resource Kit?
The Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Resource Kit Tools are a set of tools to help administrators streamline management tasks such as troubleshooting operating system issues, managing Active Directory, configuring networking and security features, and automating application deployment.
Why Use Robocopy?
Robocopy is designed for reliable copy or mirroring of entire folders of any size ensuring all NTFS attributes and properties are copied (except security-related ones), particularly over network connections that are subject to disruption or outages.
=> Ability to copy entire subdirectories (note: XCOPY can do this, COPY can’t)
=> Ability to tolerate network outages and resume copying where it previously left off (incomplete files are noted with a date stamp of 1/1/1980)
=> Ability to correctly copy NTFS ACLs, attributes, owner information, alternate data streams, auditing information, and timestamps by default, without the need for numerous oft-forgotten command line switches
=> Ability to copy large quantities of files that would normally crash the built-in XCOPY utility.
=> A progress indicator on the command line that updates continuously.
Download Robocopy Command Line Tool for Windows 2003 and 2008 Server / Windows XP / Vista / 7
- Please visit Microsoft web site to download Robocopy (rktools.exe – 11.8M). It is part of Windows Server 2003 Resource Kit.
Robocopy Download GUI Tools
- Robocopy GUI is a free GUI frontend to the robocopy command.
- RichCopy is a free new utility which offers a number of improvements over Robocopy GUI.
How do I use robocopy Command?
See article “Sync data between two Load balanced Windows 2003 servers” for more information.