I did the tab thing still the same results.  I usually use the tab completion because it ensures I am using the right name. mysql]$ sudo cp /var/lib/mysql/DB1/* /var/lib/mysql/DB2/ Results : cp: cannot stat `/var/lib/mysql/DB1/*': No such file or directory If i do :  sudo vdir /var/lib/mysql/DB1/* I get vdir: /var/lib/mysql/baseline/*: No such file or directory If I remove the asterisk like this : sudo vdir /var/lib/mysql/DB1/ I get a list of the directory DB1. if I issue the command sudo cp /var/lib/mysql/DB1/ /var/lib/mysql/DB2/ it creates a directory DB2/DB1 and copies all the files from DB1 I thought this would be a quick and dirty was to setup a testing DB.  I guess I'll have to do it the mysqldump way! ------------------------ Keith Smith --- On Thu, 8/12/10, Lisa Kachold wrote: From: Lisa Kachold Subject: Re: Linux CP command To: "Main PLUG discussion list" Date: Thursday, August 12, 2010, 4:36 PM Hi Kevin: On Thu, Aug 12, 2010 at 4:17 PM, keith smith wrote: Hi, For some reason I just don't get the cp command.  Maybe it is the deep rooted MS DOS from the 80's and 90's.  I spent about a decade using MS DOS. Here is what is going on.  I am in a CentOS box and do not ever become root.  I use sudo. I want to copy one MySql DB to another so I can use the data for testing. 1) I cd to /var/lib/mysql 2) I can see both DB's 3) I issue any number of commands that do not work. Lets say DB1 is the source directory & DB2 is the destination directory mysql]$ sudo cp DB1/*.* DB2/  Results: cp: cannot stat `DB1/*.*': No such file or directory mysql]$ sudo cp DB1/* DB2/  Results: cp: cannot stat `DB1/*': No such file or directory mysql]$ sudo cp DB1/ DB2/  Results: creates the directory DB1 under DB2 and copies all the files into DB2/DB1 mysql]$ sudo cp DB1 DB2/  Results: does not seem to do anything. http://www.computerhope.com/unix/ucp.htm shows this example: cp -r /home/hope/files/* /home/hope/backup mysql]$ sudo cp -r /var/lib/mysql/DB1/* /var/lib/mysql/DB2 - cp: cannot stat `/var/lib/mysql/baseline/*': No such file or directory This is driving me crazy.  Any help much appreciated!   ------------------------ Keith Smith Linux is exactly like a good domestic or business partner, telling you very clearly directly and completely what an issue might be. It it says:   cannot stat `/var/lib/mysql/baseline/*': No such file or directory There IS not such file or directory. Did you run a nice: ls -al first to determine what was there? You can use the TAB key to autocomplete your commands, which is very useful for linux. It sounds like you might actually want a mysqldump and import instead?  -- Office: (602)239-3392 AT&T: (503)754-4452 http://it-clowns.com "Faith is, at one and the same time, absolutely necessary and altogether impossible. " --Stanislav Lem -----Inline Attachment Follows----- --------------------------------------------------- PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss