rsync server over SSH [includes code patches]

[Dave Dykstra]

On Mon, Nov 19, 2001 at 10:54:44PM -0500, JD Paul wrote:
> Hi Folks --
> 
> I've recently had the need to add a piece of functionality to rsync
> that allows one to run 'rsync --daemon' (rsync in "rsync server" mode)
> over SSH.  My main goal was to be able to use some of the features
> from rsyncd.conf(5) (notably modules) while still using SSH for
> authentication and network transport.
> 
> Background:   I wanted to have the capability of setting up a
> locked-down host (allowing only SSH access, with single-use keys) that
> could be used as a staging server for file copying between domains
> that need strict separation for security reasons. 
> 
> With my code changes (diffs included below), you can use "rsync
> server" mode over ssh by using ':::' instead of ':' or '::' -- e.g. by
> using one of the following invocations:
> 
> rsync [options] -e ssh source [...] [user@]host:::module[/path]
> rsync [options] -e ssh [user@]host:::module[/path] dest


I'm uncomfortable with adding yet another syntax.  I'd prefer just keying
off the "-e" when the two colons are used.  Currently "-e" is ignored if
you use two colons, so we don't need to worry about upward compatibility
except from people who had no idea what they were doing.

I see that your change works even with the default rsh transport, but if
people really want that they can say '-e rsh'.


...
> P.S.  Does one have to explicitly petition to get changes merged into
> the main development branch, or is submitting code changes considered
> that petition?

Yes, I'd say submitting code is considered that petition.  Also, the
maintainer Martin Pool needs to consider it important enough to spend some
of his very limited time on it.

The primary author of rsync, Andrew Tridgell, and I (a former primary
maintainer) also in rare circumstances submit something to the development
branch.  Rsync is under-maintained at this point, and at times in the past
I have asked Andrew to try to recruit more maintainers.  Perhaps you'd be a
good candidate.

- Dave Dykstra