feat(post): New post on copy data with synchronize in Ansible

site/content/post/what-good-way-sending-big-directory-structure-server-using-ansible.md

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+---
+title: "What's a good way of sending a big directory structure to a server using Ansible?"
+date: 2019-06-19
+lang: en
+---
+
+Ansible has a `copy` module that works really well for moving a small set of
+files around. But it can rapidly slow down your playbook since [it does not
+scale well with hundreds of files][cm]. So how can you move a big set of files
+and folder without losing too much time? Well, you use another module named
+`synchronize` for this.
+
+`synchronize` uses a tool named `rsync` under the hood, so you first have to
+ensure it is installed on your machine, and on the targeted host (it comes with
+most Unixes). If you are using macOS or Ubuntu, it should be already there.
+Otherwise start by installing it on your computer.
+
+To be sure it is installed on your targeted server you should add a task to
+install it before you use the `synchronize` module in your playbook. Here it is
+an example for Ubuntu or Debian hosts:
+
+```yaml
+- name: Install rsync running synchronize later
+  apt:
+    name: rsync
+    state: present
+```
+
+By default `synchronize` just require a `src` and a `dest`, but like a lot of
+Ansible modules [there are many more options for finer control][sm].
+
+Here is a minimal example of using the module:
+
+```yaml
+- name: Synchronize a local folder to my remote server
+  synchronize:
+    src: path/to/my/local/folder
+    dest: /absolute/path/to/my/destination/folder
+```
+
+And with that you can copy a gazillion files (at least) without worrying that
+your copy will be slow!
+
+Happy syncing 👋
+
+[cm]: https://docs.ansible.com/ansible/latest/modules/copy_module.html#notes
+[sm]: https://docs.ansible.com/ansible/latest/modules/synchronize_module.html#synchronize-module