Rsync creates a directory with the same name inside of destination directory

Solution 1:

If you don't want another tests directory created, the correct command would be

rsync -avzp --del -e "ssh -p myport" user@hostname:/var/www/tests/ /var/www/tests

Note the / at the end of user@hostname:/var/www/tests/.

You need a trailing slash on the source.

Here is the correct command:

rsync -avzp --del -e "ssh -p myport" user@hostname:/var/www/tests/ /var/www/tests

Explanation of rsync and trailing slashes:

http://defindit.com/readme_files/rsync_backup.html

Rsync has two major modes of operation. The modes are dependent on the absence or presence of the trailing slash on the source directory.

Another example:

http://www.jveweb.net/en/archives/2010/11/synchronizing-folders-with-rsync.html

...you need to add the trailing slash, otherwise, a folder called Pictures is created inside the Pictures folder that we specify as destination.