Configuring rsync Daemon for Backup Server on CentOS

This guide demonstrates how to set up an rsync daemon on a backup server (IP 192.168.210.85) and configure a client (IP 192.168.210.177) to transfer files securely.

Install rsync

rpm -qa rsync

rsync-3.1.2-10.el7.x86_64

Configure /etc/rsyncd.conf

# /etc/rsyncd: configuration file for rsync daemon mode
# See rsyncd.conf man page for more options.
uid = rsync
gid = rsync
use chroot = no
max connections = 200
pid file = /var/run/rsyncd.pid
fake super = yes
timeout = 600
lock file = /var/run/rsync.lock
log file = /var/log/rsyncd.log
ignore errors
read only = false
list = false
hosts allow = 192.168.210.0/24
hosts deny = 0.0.0.0/32
auth users = rsyncback
secrets file = /etc/rsyncd.password
[backup]
path = /backup

Create rsync user and backup directory

useradd rsync -s /sbin/nologin -M

mkdir /backup

chown -R rsync:rsync /backup/

Set up authentication password file

echo "rsyncback:123456" > /etc/rsyncd.password

chmod 600 /etc/rsyncd.password

Verify the password file: cat /etc/rsyncd.password Result: rsyncback:123456 Start the rsync daemon systemctl start rsyncd Confirm it is listening on port 873: netstat -nltp | grep :873 Client side operations

Prepare the same password file on the client:

echo "123456" > /etc/rsyncd.password

chmod 600 /etc/rsyncd.password

Push a file to the backup server (using password file)

rsync -avzP /root/case.sh [email protected]::backup --password-file=/etc/rsyncd.password

Output shows successful transfer of case.sh (140 bytes).

Push a file without specifying password file (will prompt) rsync -avzP /root/case.sh [email protected]::backup Result: 140 bytes transferred, speedup 2.00.

Pull a file from the backup server

rsync -avz [email protected]::backup /root/hell.py --password-file=/etc/rsyncd.password

The guide ends with a separator line indicating completion.