Create "thincopy": with fileystem metadata only?

[Peter B.]

Hi everyone :)

I'm professionally and seriously working with extended filesystem 
attributes (xattrs) for search/retrieval of data.

I am making a "thincopy" of large data trees, like this:

`$ cp --attributes-only --preserve=all $(SOURCE) $(TARGET)`


Is there a way to do this with rsync?
I'm asking, because I'd like to keep that thin-copy in-sync (including 
xattrs).


Such a thincopy has proven immediately useful as "instant metadata 
catalog" for searching and browsing arbitrary data.
Is there any equivalent of "--attributes-only" in rsync?



Grateful for any feedback,
Peter B.