rsync mechanics question

[JamesDR]

Tom Riley wrote:
> Hey All,
> 
>  
> 
> I’ve been using rsync (2.6.9) to migrate a 90g message store volume and
> I’m running into some interesting results. I have two FC storage arrays
> attached to a Sunfire V280R, running Solaris 8. My 100gig volume is on a
> Sun StoreEdge 3510, and my new 500gig partition is on an HP EVA.
> 
>  
> 
> I used the syntax: rsync -a --stats --delete $SRC/$dir/ $DST/$dir
> 
>  
> 
> At present time, the destination volume is 2.5 times the size of the
> original volume. My first thought was this may be a drive geometry
> issue, and I’ve been working with Sun to get a solution. They believe
> rsync is doing a block level copy, instead of a file level copy. That
> doesn’t seem to jive with what I’ve been reading, but wanted to get some
> more experienced eyes looking at the problem.
> 
>  
> 
> Does rsync copy files at a file copy level or is it attempting to do
> some block level copying?  Has anyone experienced this sort of bloated
> expansion of space? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
> 
>  
> 
> -Tom
> 

It creates temporary files during the xfer then moves them over once
completed. I think you'll want to use --inplace. So if the store is 90GB
in size, while the xfer is going on it could be using 180GB +/- (depending.)

http://rsync.samba.org/ftp/rsync/rsync.html has more info.

-- 
Thanks,
James