RSYNC is a powerful tool often used in Unix-based systems to synchronize files between different systems. This file copying tool utilizes an algorithm that minimizes the amount of data copied by only transferring the portions of files that have changed. Sometimes users may encounter an “RSYNC error: connection interrupted” message when they are trying to transfer files. This error essentially means that RSYNC couldn’t successfully finish the file transferring process. There could be several reasons behind this issue.
1. Network Interruptions: The most common reason is probably a network disruption. If you’re running RSYNC over a network, then ensure that your network connection is solid and stable. Test your internet connection to ensure that it’s stable. You can use tools like ping, traceroute, or mtr to help you diagnose network problems.
1. Insufficient Disk Space: If the destination doesn’t have enough space, then RSYNC may fail mid-transfer, resulting in this error. Always ensure that you have adequate space on both the source and destination devices. You can use the ‘df’ command to check the available disk space on your system.
1. Firewalls/Security Group rules: Check if there are any firewalls or security group rules that could be causing conflicts and blocking the data transfer. Ensure that the proper ports are open and that RSYNC is allowed through the firewall.
1. Incorrect RSYNC Syntax/Commands: An incorrect command syntax or a typographical error could also interrupt the connection. Ensure you’re using the correct syntax for the RSYNC command you wish to run.
Here’s an example of a correct syntax: `rsync -avz source_directory/ user@destination:/destination_directory`
In this command:
- ‘-a’ stands for archive mode
- ‘-v’ stands for verbose (which means it’s showing debugging information)
- ‘-z’ compresses file data during the transfer
In case RSYNC still keeps failing, then according to the official Linux Documentation (man rsync), you may want to consider using ‘—partial’ or ‘—partial-dir’ options, which allow RSYNC to retain partial files that were successfully transferred, so upon a rerun it only needs to transfer the remaining parts.
Trying these practices would generally resolve the “RSYNC error: connection interrupted”. If you still can’t fix the error, it’d be a good idea to look at your RSYNC logs for more specific error messages that can guide you on what to fix. Understanding the specific error message would allow you to apply a more specific solution.
Sources used:
1. https://linux.die.net/man/1/rsync
2. https://www.linode.com/docs/guides/introduction-to-rsync/
3. https://www.howtogeek.com/135533/how-to-use-rsync-to-backup-your-data-on-linux/
4. https://askubuntu.com/questions/475019/how-to-check-hard-disk-usage-in-ubuntu
5. https://www.simplified.guide/rsync/fix-broken-pipe
