Rsync, also known as ‘Remote Sync’, is a standard Linux command-line tool employed to sync or copy files and directories either remotely or locally across Linux computers. Occasionally, while using rsync, you might encounter rsync error with exit codes of 255. This code is generally associated with two types of errors:
1. SSH (Secure Shell) Error: This usually happens if you’re using rsync over SSH and the SSH connection has failed.
2. Rsync Error: Involves the rsync command failing due to some internal error.
Solving this issue requires you to identify whether it’s an SSH or an rsync problem. If rsync seems to be working fine individually (when not using SSH), then it’s likely an SSH issue and vice-versa. Here’s how you can resolve both of the issues:
1. Resolving SSH Error: Check out your SSH configuration. Can connect directly using the SSH client? If you’re using a password based authentication, then check if you’re able to login without any issues. If you’ve decided to outfit password-less SSH login for automation purposes, then confirm whether you’re entering the correct password or passphrase, if you chose to use one. It’s worth double checking whether the correct public key is used during the exchange. In case of server authentication errors, your ssh-keygen might be outdated or wrongly configured. These instances ask for an update/reconfiguration.
1. Resolving Rsync Error: Verify if rsync is configured properly and works without SSH. Use the verbose option (-v or —verbose) to get detailed information about where rsync is failing. Address issues appropriately whether it’s related to the source/destination of files or issue with syntax.
As for retrieval of data, it’s a wise move to always have a backup of all your crucial data on a separate storage medium.
Practical examples of this fix can be found in numerous forums such as Stack Overflow or server administration-focused sites like Server Fault. They host numerous troubleshooting questions answered by user communities. More technical and verified fix can be seen in articles or guides like ‘How to fix rsync error’ in Linuxize (https://linuxize.com/post/how-to-use-rsync-for-local-and-remote-data-transfer-and-synchronization/), ‘rsync: protocol version mismatch’ from the Unix & Linux Stack Exchange (https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/48298/rsync-protocol-version-mismatch-cant-call-printf), and ‘Common Errors with Rsync’ in Atlantic.Net’s community tutorials section (https://www.atlantic.net/community/howto/common-errors-with-rsync/). These sites will give you a detailed understanding of the following steps, which can efficiently address the 255 exit error.
