Rsync Code Generator - SterryIT, LLC

Your data is important. Protect it with backup.

This page will help you setup backup to a remote server using the tools widely-supported rsync and ssh. Most Unix-based operating systems(GNU/Linux, FreeBSD, OSX) include rsync by default but if it's not installed consult your documentation to install rsync and OpenSSH. For Windows, your easiest option is to use cwrsync(download). It is assumed that you have a system setup that can store your backups. Setup of such a server is beyond the scope of this document.

Fill out the form to have the commands customized. Each command should be run on the machine that you want to backup from.

Generate your public key (accept all defaults):

 ssh-keygen -t rsa -N ''

Upload the public key (you will be prompted for the password to login three times):

ssh  user@host 'mkdir .ssh' && 
ssh  user@host 'chmod 700 .ssh' &&
rsync -av --append '/cygdrive/c/documents and settings/administrator/.ssh/id_rsa.pub' user@host:.ssh/authorized_keys

With your passwordless login now setup, use lines like this to execute the backup:

rsync -av --chmod u+rwx -e "ssh -i c:\docume~1\administrator\.ssh\id_rsa" "/cygdrive/c/documents and settings/administrator" user@host:

You will most likely want to save the rsync lines in a .bat or a shell script and have it automated through scheduled tasks or cron. If you need a backup server, we can setup one or provide hosting. Call Sterry IT at 888-469-7248.