Linux / UNIX: Cannot Preserve Ownership Error when Files are Moved or Copied

If you encounter the error "cannot preserve ownership" when moving or copying files in Linux or Unix, it may be because you do not have the necessary permissions to preserve the ownership of the files.

In Linux and Unix, ownership of a file is determined by the user and group that owns the file. Only the owner of a file or a user with root privileges can change the ownership of a file. When you move or copy a file, the ownership of the file is typically preserved, unless you do not have the necessary permissions.

To troubleshoot the "cannot preserve ownership" error, you can try the following steps:

1. Check your permissions: Make sure that you have the necessary permissions to move or copy the files. You can use the ls -l command to view the permissions of the files, and the chmod command to change the permissions if needed.

2. Use the -p option: When using the cp or mv command, you can use the -p option to preserve the ownership and permissions of the files. For example:

cp -p file1 file2

This will copy the file file1 to file2, preserving the ownership and permissions of file1.

3. Use sudo: If you are not the owner of the files and do not have the necessary permissions to preserve the ownership, you can try using the sudo command to execute the cp or mv command with root privileges. For example:

sudo cp file1 file2

This will copy the file file1 to file2, preserving the ownership and permissions of file1, as long as you have the necessary permissions to use sudo.

If you are still encountering the "cannot preserve ownership" error after trying these steps, you may need to seek assistance from a qualified Linux or Unix administrator.

For more information about file ownership and permissions in Linux and Unix, you can consult the documentation for the chmod, cp, and mv commands or seek assistance from a qualified administrator.