John, I also couldn't find a way from console,
Maybe you already know and don't prefer to use, but API solves this problem.
FileSystem.copyFromLocalFile(boolean delSrc, boolean overwrite, Path
src, Path dst)
If you have to use console, long solution, but you can create a jar
for this, and call it
I'm using the Hadoop FS commands to move files from my local machine into
the Hadoop dfs. I'd like a way to force a write to the dfs even if a file of
the same name exists. Ideally I'd like to use a -force switch or some
such; e.g.,
hadoop dfs -copyFromLocal -force adirectory
