Simple file transfer
I use scp
.
scp source desthost:/path/to/dest/.
to copy from the local machine to the remote machine, or
scp srchost:/path/to/file/file .
to copy from a remote machine to the local machine.
If the username is not the same on the remote machine,
scp user@srchost:/path/to/file/file .
I usually mount a directory through ssh via FUSE and sshfs.
Mount:
$ sshfs name@server:/path/to/dir /path/to/mount/point
Unmount:
$ fusermount -u /path/to/mount/point
I use netcat (if I don't need security)
nc -l -p 1234 < send_file # 'server'
nc x.y.z.t 1234 > receive_file # 'client'