recommended:

cp -pR        (supported for almost all version)
cp -av        (gnu shortcut)

Others

cp -pr [-v]   (lazy version)

The  backup  suffix  is  `~',  unless  set  with   --suffix   or   SIM-
PLE_BACKUP_SUFFIX.   The version control method may be selected via the
--backup option or through the  VERSION_CONTROL  environment  variable.
Here are the values:

numbered, t
       make numbered backups

touch aaa ab
cp --backup=numbered ab aaa
cp --backup=numbered ab aaa; cp --backup=numbered ab aaa

$ dir
-rw-r--r--    1 root     root            0 Oct 30 20:42 aaa.~1~
-rw-r--r--    1 root     root            0 Oct 30 20:42 ab
-rw-r--r--    1 root     root            0 Oct 30 20:46 aaa.~2~
-rw-r--r--    1 root     root            0 Oct 30 20:46 aaa.~3~
-rw-r--r--    1 root     root            0 Oct 30 20:46 aaa

-a, --archive
     same as -dpR

-b, --backup
     make backup before removal

-d, --no-dereference
     preserve links

-f, --force
     remove existing destinations, never prompt

-i, --interactive
     prompt before overwrite

-p, --preserve
     preserve file attributes if possible

-r   copy recursively, non-directories as files

-R, --recursive
     copy directories recursively

-u, --update
     copy only when the SOURCE file is newer than the desti-
     nation file or when the destination file is missing

-v, --verbose
     explain what is being done

documented on: 06-03-99 09:58:32