rsync.yo doc patch

[jw schultz]

On Fri, Jan 23, 2004 at 01:43:41AM -0800, Wayne Davison wrote:
> On Thu, Jan 22, 2004 at 06:50:35PM -0800, jw schultz wrote:
> > I'd leave it as is except to replace the paranthetic with
> > the text regarding --numeric-ids in the --owner section
> 
> Unfortunately the text in the --owner section is wrong -- the
> --numeric-ids option is not implied by anything.  If the chroot
> area contains its own etc/passwd and etc/group files, the names
> will be mapped even when chroot is enabled.  I've updated the
> sections on --owner, --group, --numeric-ids, and the "use chroot"
> setting.  See how you like it.

You are right, it isn't "implied"; it is "compelled" unless
the configuration allows name and ID lookups.  

The only objection i have to your --owner, and --group text
is "The preservation is done primarily by name".  It is only
primarily by name when --numeric-ids isn't selected and
passwd and group lookup is possible. 

I say "passwd and group lookup is possible" and not that
"/etc/passwd and /etc/group files are readable" because the
precise behaviour is dependant on the libraries and most
often /etc/nsswitch.conf (if readable).  On FreeBSD it is
pwd.db that has to be readable.  People using NIS or, i
assume,  LDAP don't need passwd and group files so don't
need to keep them up-to-date. 

As i think about it i'm inclined to suggest we put only a
reference to --numeric-ids in the --owner and --group
sections and put a more detailed description in the
--numeric-ids section.

The more detailed description in --numeric-ids (as a central
point for the rsync.1 manpage) could cover the issue of
names that aren't on both ends and files owned by IDs not in
the database, much as it does already.  It also should
perhaps not go into chroot issues but merely reference the
chroot section of rsyncd.conf.5 with a mention that rsync
daemons might not be configured to support ID preservation
by name.

The chroot section of rsync.conf.5 could cover the issue of
database availability for name<->ID lookups.  As i think on
it if we refer to the issue as being of identification
database availability instead of specific files in /etc the
text gets much simpler, more portable, and might be included
on both manpages.

-- 
________________________________________________________________
	J.W. Schultz            Pegasystems Technologies
	email address:		jw at pegasys.ws

		Remember Cernan and Schmitt