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Asked: 2024-09-26T21:31:49+05:30 In:

What are the steps to set up an rsync server on Ubuntu 16.04 that allows access via SSH for other systems?

I’m trying to set up an rsync server on my Ubuntu 16.04 machine, and honestly, I’m a bit lost on how to get it up and running—especially when it comes to allowing access via SSH for other systems. I’ve read a few tutorials, but they all seem to skip over some of the details, and I’m not sure if I’m doing things right. I figured I’d reach out here for some help because I’m sure I can’t be the only one who’s faced this.

So, here’s the deal: I want to sync files between this Ubuntu server and a few remote machines using rsync over SSH. I know I need to install rsync (obviously), but what about the SSH part? Do I need to set up an SSH server separately, or is it included with Ubuntu? And what are the exact commands I should be using to get everything set up?

I’m also a bit confused about user permissions—how do I make sure that only certain users can access the rsync service, and is there a way to restrict their access to specific directories? Security is essential for me, so I’d love to understand the best practices for setting this up.

Oh, and what about the configuration files? Do I need to edit anything in the `sshd_config` or the rsync daemon configuration file? I’ve heard of `rsyncd.conf`, but I’m not clear on how that fits into the picture. Plus, should I be creating SSH keys for authentication, or is using a password sufficient for my needs—especially if I’m syncing large volumes of data frequently?

Any insights on these steps would be super helpful! If anyone could lay out a clear, step-by-step guide, or share their experience in doing this with Ubuntu 16.04, that would be amazing. I’m looking forward to your tips and tricks! Thanks in advance for your help!

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    1. Setting Up Rsync Server on Ubuntu 16.04

      Setting Up Rsync Server on Ubuntu 16.04

      Getting your rsync server up and running over SSH on Ubuntu 16.04 can seem a bit tricky at first, but don’t worry! Here’s a clearer way to tackle it step by step. Let’s get started!

      Step 1: Install Rsync

      First things first, you need to have rsync installed. You can do this by running:

      sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install rsync

      This installs the rsync package for you.

      Step 2: Set Up SSH

      Ubuntu actually comes with an SSH server, but it might not be installed by default. To check if it’s there, you can run:

      sudo systemctl status ssh

      If it’s not installed, you can install it with:

      sudo apt-get install openssh-server

      Step 3: Start the SSH Server

      Make sure your SSH service is running:

      sudo systemctl start ssh

      And if you want it to start on boot, run:

      sudo systemctl enable ssh

      Step 4: User Permissions

      To restrict access, you’ll want to manage users effectively. Create a new user or use an existing one that should have access to rsync:

      sudo adduser rsyncuser

      Replace `rsyncuser` with your chosen username. You can also set permissions using the /etc/ssh/sshd_config file. You can limit this user by adding something like:

      Match User rsyncuser
     ChrootDirectory /home/rsyncuser
     ForceCommand internal-sftp

      The `ChrootDirectory` directive restricts the user to their home directory.

      Step 5: SSH Keys vs. Passwords

      For better security, it’s a good idea to use SSH keys instead of passwords. You can create a key pair on your local machine using:

      ssh-keygen

      Then copy it to your server:

      ssh-copy-id rsyncuser@your-server-ip

      This way, your rsync transfers will be more secure!

      Step 6: Rsync Configuration File

      Now for the rsync daemon, you might want to set up a configuration file for rsync, usually named rsyncd.conf. You’ll create this file (with sudo) in the /etc/ directory, and here’s a simple example:

      [myshare]
     path = /path/to/directory
     comment = My Shared Directory
     read only = no
     list = yes
     auth users = rsyncuser
     secrets file = /etc/rsyncd.secrets

      This tells rsync to share a specific directory and restrict access based on the users you define.

      Step 7: Final Thoughts

      When you edit /etc/ssh/sshd_config or other config files, always remember to restart the relevant service afterward:

      sudo systemctl restart ssh

      Lastly, using passwords might be okay, but for more sensitive or frequent transfers, using SSH keys is highly recommended.

      And that’s the gist of it! Just follow these steps, and you’ll have a working rsync server that’s as secure as you want it. Happy syncing!



    2. To set up an rsync server on your Ubuntu 16.04 machine with SSH access, you indeed need to install both rsync and OpenSSH server. Start by installing rsync using the command `sudo apt-get install rsync`, and then install the SSH server with `sudo apt-get install openssh-server`. By default, the SSH server should be running; you can check its status with `systemctl status ssh`. If it’s not running, you can start it using `sudo systemctl start ssh`. For security reasons, it’s advisable to create SSH keys for authentication rather than relying on passwords, especially for frequent large data syncs. You can generate a key pair using `ssh-keygen` and then copy the public key to the remote systems using `ssh-copy-id user@remote_host`. This ensures a more secure connection without the hassle of entering a password each time.

      Regarding user permissions and access control, you can manage it through the `/etc/ssh/sshd_config` file. Look for the `AllowUsers` directive to specify which users can connect via SSH. To control access to specific directories for rsync, you will need to create an `rsyncd.conf` file, which allows you to define modules that specify paths and authentication. Here’s an example configuration:

      # /etc/rsyncd.conf
pid file = /var/run/rsyncd.pid
[my_module]
    path = /path/to/directory
    comment = My directory
    read only = no
    list = yes
    auth users = myuser
    secrets file = /etc/rsyncd.secrets

      In the `rsyncd.secrets` file, you would list users and their passwords in the format `myuser:password`. Finally, to start the rsync daemon, use the command `rsync –daemon` and check the logs for any errors. Make sure to configure your firewall to allow SSH traffic on port 22 and properly secure access to your server.


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