rsync man pages, rsync faqs, problem with RSYNC_PASSWORD and --password-file

[Peter Halverson]

Hi all,

This isn't a bug, its just a lapse in the documentation.

I just got a script going that repeats every 5 seconds, that uses rsync 
to send data from A, running Ubuntu V6.06.1, to B, running cygwin.

I got stuck on the issue of preventing the password prompt from 
interrupting the script.

The problem is that the man pages are misleading, they suggest that 
RSYNC_PASSWORD and --password-file are the answer.  That might have been 
true in the past, but now they just don't work, as far as I can tell.

The documentation needs to say up front that the right way to do it is 
to use ssh-keygen on A, to create a public key file id_dsa.pub.  Then to 
install that key's content in a file on B, in ~/.ssh/authorized_keys.

This information, in an easily found place, would save many people some 
time and frustration.

Other than that gripe, it's great to have rsync as a stable tool. 
Thanks!!!!

Sincerely,

Peter H.


-- 
Peter Halverson
Promethean Devices
halverson at prometheandevices.com 626-287-3225