title: Overhead of -a flag in cp command
body: <p>Let's say we have a custom backup service that follows the <a href="http://www.mikerubel.org/computers/rsync_snapshots/index.html" rel="nofollow">rsync approach suggested by Mike Rubel</a>. In order to make backup rotations, this <code>cp</code> command must be used:</p>
  
  <pre><code>cp -al source target
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Having this, I'm trying to rotate a 35GB directory which has a lot of small files (~5KB-200KB), i.e. a very large tree directory. The problem is that it lasts at least five hours. It seems a lot to me, specially by using the <code>-l</code> option.</p>
  
  <p>Is it normal that behaviour with SATA disks? May the <code>-al</code> combination flag be causing an extra overhead in cp command that results in that delay?</p>
  
  <p>Thanks!</p>