scp as a background process

To execute any linux command in background we use nohup as follows:

$ nohup SOME_COMMAND &

But the problem with scp command is that it prompts for the password (if password authentication is used). So to make scp execute as a background process do this:

$ nohup scp file_to_copy user@server:/path/to/copy/the/file > nohup.out 2>&1

Then press ctrl + z which will temporarily suspend the command, then enter the command:

$ bg

This will start executing the command in backgroud

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