Linux Permissions – Run Rsync Replication Script as Non-Root User

file-serverlinuxpermissionsrsync

How can I run an rsync backup/replication script in a user other than root while preserving permissions? This is a multi-user fileserver, where each user has a *nix account for permissions.

Running with the root user poses obvious security risk – especially when you are using passwordless ssh keys to do it automatically.

But running in a user other than root (like a backup user with full group permissions to the data directories), has problems setting permissions because only the owner or root can change permissions.

In a perfect world, the production server user would only have read-only access.

Thanks!

Best Answer

You can use fakeroot -s:

   -s save-file
          Save  the  fakeroot  environment to save-file on exit. This file
          can be used to restore the environment later using -i.  However,
          this  file will leak and fakeroot will behave in odd ways unless
          you leave the files touched inside the fakeroot alone when  out‐
          side the environment. Still, this can be useful. For example, it
          can be used with rsync(1) to back up and restore whole directory
          trees  complete  with user, group and device information without
          needing to be  root.  See  /usr/share/doc/fakeroot/README.saving
          for more details.
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