gsutil is a command-line interface (CLI) tool provided by Google Cloud Platform that enables users to interact with Google Cloud Storage (GCS) directly from the command line. With gsutil, developers and system administrators can perform a diverse range of tasks related to managing buckets and objects within Google Cloud Storage, offering powerful capabilities for cloud-based data storage and manipulation.
Key features and functionalities of gsutil include:
- Bucket Operations: Users can create, delete, list, and modify buckets within Google Cloud Storage using gsutil. This includes tasks such as creating new buckets, setting access control policies, and configuring bucket properties.
- Object Management: gsutil allows users to upload, download, copy, move, and delete objects stored within Google Cloud Storage buckets. Users can perform various operations on individual objects or entire sets of objects, facilitating efficient data manipulation and organization.
- Metadata Handling: gsutil provides support for managing object metadata, including custom metadata attributes associated with objects stored in Google Cloud Storage. Users can set, update, view, and remove metadata attributes using gsutil, enabling flexible data annotation and classification.
- Access Control: gsutil supports access control mechanisms provided by Google Cloud Storage, allowing users to set permissions, access policies, and authentication credentials for buckets and objects. Users can configure fine-grained access controls to restrict or grant permissions to specific users or groups.
- Batch Processing: gsutil offers batch processing capabilities for performing bulk operations on large numbers of objects efficiently. Users can leverage features such as parallel uploads/downloads, wildcard matching, and recursive directory traversal to automate complex data management tasks.
- Integration with Other Tools: gsutil seamlessly integrates with other Google Cloud Platform services and tools, allowing users to incorporate cloud storage operations into their existing workflows and automation scripts. Users can combine gsutil commands with other Google Cloud SDK tools and APIs to build custom solutions for data management and processing.
gsutil Command Examples
1. List all buckets in a project you are logged into:
# gsutil ls
2. List the objects in a bucket:
# gsutil ls -r 'gs://[bucket_name]/[prefix]**'
3. Download an object from a bucket:
# gsutil cp gs://[bucket_name]/[object_name] [path/to/save_location]
4. Upload an object to a bucket:
# gsutil cp [object_location] gs://[destination_bucket_name]/
5. Rename or move objects in a bucket:
# gsutil mv gs://[bucket_name]/[old_object_name] gs://[bucket_name]/[new_object_name]
6. Create a new bucket in the project you are logged into:
# gsutil mb gs://[bucket_name]
7. Delete a bucket and remove all the objects in it:
# gsutil rm -r gs://[bucket_name]
Summary
Overall, gsutil serves as a versatile and powerful tool for interacting with Google Cloud Storage from the command line, providing users with a convenient and efficient way to manage their cloud-based storage resources. Whether performing simple file uploads or complex data manipulation tasks, gsutil offers a comprehensive set of features and capabilities to meet the diverse needs of cloud storage users.