Written 30 Aug 2026. This is a how-to, not a product card.

Pack files into one archive

After SSH works, pack files into one archive with tar so you can copy one file instead of a folder. You don't need a zip app for this.

A folder is easier to copy as one file. Tonight you pack a folder: tar. Tar packs files into one archive. Start with a tiny folder in home. Unpack into a throwaway folder. Don't unpack into /etc. You are still only practicing on the computer. It does not need a zip app for this one job.

Skip until SSH already works

SSH from the couch should already get you a prompt. If shrink for one file is what you want, that is shrink one file. If a whole file copy on the computer is what you want, that is copy a file without leaving the computer. If a folder is what you want to make, that is make a folder.

What this is

tar packs files into one file. Archive means that pack file. You type tar, then flags, then an archive path, then names to pack. -c means create. -f means the archive file name comes next. -t means list the pack. -x means unpack. -C means change folder first. Order matters, so put -C with the throwaway folder when you unpack. Sit in home, then pack a relative name. Don't pack /home/... paths. tar -xf unpacks into the folder you are sitting in unless you pass -C. Don't unpack into /etc. Don't pack . from a folder you don't own.

Pack a practice folder in home

SSH in. Make sure home is where you sit:

pwd

You want a path that ends in your login name. If not:

cd ~

Make a tiny practice folder:

mkdir -p ~/pack-me

printf 'hello\n' > ~/pack-me/hello.txt

printf 'second line\n' > ~/pack-me/notes.txt

Sit in home, then pack a relative name. Don't pack /home/... paths:

cd ~

tar -cf ~/pack-me.tar pack-me

Look at archive size:

ls -lh ~/pack-me.tar

Optional facts on the archive:

stat ~/pack-me.tar

List pack contents. Don't unpack yet:

tar -tf ~/pack-me.tar

You want names like:

pack-me/

pack-me/hello.txt

pack-me/notes.txt

Unpack into a throwaway folder so you don't dump files into home:

mkdir -p ~/unpack-me

tar -xf ~/pack-me.tar -C ~/unpack-me

ls ~/unpack-me/pack-me

You want hello.txt and notes.txt. That is enough for tonight. Practice only in home.

Debian and Ubuntu usually already have tar. Don't make apt the job. If tar is missing:

sudo apt install tar

Then stop. That install is not the lesson.

When you are done, throw the practice files away. Careful delete only. That is delete a file carefully. Skip rm -rf.

rm -i ~/pack-me.tar

Then the practice files:

rm -i ~/pack-me/hello.txt ~/pack-me/notes.txt

Useful extras, still home only

Want names printed while packing?

tar -cvf ~/pack-me.tar pack-me

Want a list with facts?

tar -tvf ~/pack-me.tar

Want a smaller archive? Optional gzip:

tar -czf ~/pack-me.tar.gz pack-me

Then list:

tar -tzf ~/pack-me.tar.gz

Unpack the gzip archive into the throwaway folder:

tar -xzf ~/pack-me.tar.gz -C ~/unpack-me

Don't unpack into /etc. Don't pack whole disks.

What this is not

This is not gzip as the job. That is shrink one file. It is not a copy from your laptop. That is copy a file to the computer from your laptop. It is not a copy on the computer. That is copy a file without leaving the computer. It is not mkdir. That is make a folder. It is not a USB backup. That is a backup of the folder. It is not opening SSH to the internet. That is keep the computer on the house network. Don't forward port 22.

What next

Need shrink? Shrink one file. Need a fingerprint? Check a file fingerprint. Need a folder first? Make a folder. Keep SSH on the house network: keep the computer on the house network. Don't forward port 22.

Skip

Skip if SSH still fails. Finish SSH from the couch first.
Skip unpacking into /etc or home. Unpack into a throwaway folder with -C.
Skip packing whole disks, . from a folder you don't own, or /home/... absolute paths. Sit in home, pack a relative name.
Skip gzip, scp, cp, and mkdir as tonight's job. Those pages already exist.
Skip if you actually need the USB backup. That is a backup of the folder.
Skip files under /etc, SSH folders, or paths you don't own. Practice only in home.
Skip rm -rf. Careful delete only: delete a file carefully.
Skip opening SSH to the internet so you can do this from a coffee shop. That is keep the computer on the house network. Don't forward port 22.

Sources

Debian: tar. Ubuntu: tar. GNU tar: create. Official pages only. For the login, see SSH from the couch. For shrink, see shrink one file.

Also on this topic

SSH from the couchType commands on the computer from your laptop, on the house network. Password login first. Don't open this to the internet. See file size, date, and permissionsAfter SSH works, see file size, date, and permissions with stat. You don't need extra software for this. Copy a file to the computer from your laptopAfter SSH works, use scp to move one file without a USB stick. You don't need a NAS for this. Download a file onto the computerAfter SSH works, pull one file from a web address with curl. You don't need a browser on the computer for this. Check a file fingerprintAfter SSH works, check a file with sha256sum so you know it still matches the fingerprint you expected. You don't need a download manager for this. Make a folderAfter SSH works, make a folder with mkdir. You don't need a NAS for this. Copy a file without leaving the computerAfter SSH works, copy a file with cp so you can edit a spare without wrecking the original. You don't need a NAS for this. Delete a file carefullyAfter SSH works, delete one file with rm -i. Ask first. Skip rm -rf. You don't need a NAS for this. Shrink one fileAfter SSH works, shrink one file with gzip so a copy is smaller. You don't need a zip app for this. Turn off password login once the key worksAfter the laptop key login is boring, tell SSH to stop accepting the password. The key is how you get in. A keyboard on the computer is the backup now. Keep the computer on the house networkSSH and Pi-hole belong on the house network. Skip this if you never opened the router settings. Don't forward port 22.