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====== VIM - Read And Write Remote Files ======

Reading and writing remote files are almost same as editing remote files.

To read a remote file from our local system, we simply open it using command:

<code bash>
vim scp://peterk@192.168.1.69/test.txt
</code>

----

View the remote file’s contents from your local system to verify if the file has been really modified using command:

<code bash>
ssh peter@192.168.1.69 cat test.txt
</code>

Please note that if you want to mention the absolute path for the directory on the remote host, use double slashes **<nowiki>//</nowiki>** as shown in the following command:

<code bash>
vim scp://peter@192.168.1.69//home/peter/Documents/test.txt
</code>

----

Just in case you have already changed the default SSH port for security purposes, you should explicitly mention the SSH port no like below.

<code bash>
vim scp://peter@192.168.1.69:2200/test.txt
</code>

Replace 2200 with your SSH port number.

If you don’t have ssh/scp access, you can use other protocols, for example ftp, like below.

<code bash>
vim ftp://user@remotesystem/path/to/file
</code>


----

===== Read and Write remote files within Vim session =====

If you are already inside a Vim session, you can then read and write remote files using Nread (NetRead) and Nwrite (NetWrite) commands.

Open Vim editor in your local system using the following command:

<code bash>
vim
</code>

You’re now inside the Vim session.  To read remote file from within the local Vim session in a new buffer, simply run:

<code bash>
:e scp://peterk@192.168.1.69/test.txt
</code>

Alternatively, you can use the “Nread” command like below.

<code bash>
:Nread scp://peter@192.168.1.69/test.txt
</code>

Or,

<code bash>
:Nread "scp://peter@192.168.1.69/test.txt"
</code>



For more details, type the following command inside the Vim session:

<code bash>
:Nread ?
</code>

After reading the file, type :q to exit.

Similarly, to write the remote file, run:

<code bash>
:e scp://peter@192.168.1.69/test.txt
</code>

Press “i” to enter into insert mode and start writing /modifying it.

You can also use :w command to create and write files. But this command will create new empty file only.

<code bash>
:w scp://peter@192.168.1.69/test.txt
</code>

After writing, press ESC and type :wq to save and exit.

Alternatively, use “Nwrite” command to create to write files like below.

<code bash>
:Nwrite scp://peter@192.168.1.69/test.txt
</code>

To know more details about Nwrite, type the following in the Vim session:

<code bash>
:Nwrite ?
</code>