CentOS rsync between servers using keyfile to pass credentials
-
Generated a public and private key on each host.
Moved the public key onto each host overwriting authorized_keys.
Using
rsync -avztopgr -e "ssh -i $HOME/.ssh/authorized_keys" /home/admin/summit-reg/wp-config.php sr2i:/home/admin/summit-reg/
I'm still asked for root password.
-
@DustinB3403 said in CentOS rsync between servers using keyfile to pass credentials:
This is still requiring the ssh access key, and the root password of the remote host.
???
Two different things! You ssh into the remote with the standard user. Remote access is now established and you're running as if local.
sudo does not require the root password, it requires the user authenticate to the system when used. With sudo you never require the root password. su does require the root password, but good security practice would not have anyone use su.
Also note I say authenticate to the system, a great number of different ways to do that without passwords.
-
@travisdh1 That is the goal, to use the public and private keys to authenticate between the servers and then rsync any changes from host 1 to host 2.
-
Any ideas guys?
-
@DustinB3403 said in CentOS rsync between servers using keyfile to pass credentials:
Any ideas guys?
Any error? What did you do?
-
@DustinB3403 said in CentOS rsync between servers using keyfile to pass credentials:
@travisdh1 That is the goal, to use the public and private keys to authenticate between the servers and then rsync any changes from host 1 to host 2.
Right, using ssh-copy-id is the easiest way to get the ssh keys to the proper places once generated. After that, just use rsync with ssh like normal and it won't ask for a password.
rsync -e ssh user@host:/dir /local/dir
I've distributed keys manually in the past, but ssh-copy-id is so much faster and foolproof.... yes, I can be a fool with ssh keys quite easily.
-
@Reid-Cooper No errors, just a prompt for the root password to connect to the server.
-
@DustinB3403 said in CentOS rsync between servers using keyfile to pass credentials:
@Reid-Cooper No errors, just a prompt for the root password to connect to the server.
Is it root's account that you set the public key to be used for? /root/.ssh instead of /home/user/.ssh
-
@DustinB3403 said in CentOS rsync between servers using keyfile to pass credentials:
@Reid-Cooper No errors, just a prompt for the root password to connect to the server.
Let's back up a step here. Do the local files need root permission to read, and does the remote directory need root permission to write? If so, you do need to create an ssh key for the local machine root and use ssh-copy-id to copy that to the remote one.
-
You could create a user on each system, specific to this task; and give that user restricted passwordless sudo access to only run the specific rsync command you need to have run.
Throw your rsync command in a script and restrict your user's passwordless sudo access to running that specific script. Et voila! Authentication issues resolved.
--edit--
I think this can help point you in the right direction: https://serverfault.com/questions/596940/sudoers-nopasswd-how-to-grant-access-to-a-specific-ln-command
-
Ok well I can ssh between the servers, but both are asking for the root/.ssh/id_rsa passphrase and the root credentials.
-
@DustinB3403 said in CentOS rsync between servers using keyfile to pass credentials:
Ok well I can ssh between the servers, but both are asking for the root/.ssh/id_rsa passphrase and the root credentials.
That is where you would want passwordless sudo access tied to a specific user that will ONLY have that sudo access restricted to running your rsync command.
You'll be able to log into the remote system using your keys, and with passwordless sudo enabled, you'll not be prompted for a password when you run your sudo rsync... command.
-
@RamblingBiped why can't I use the keys generated for this, rather than needing an outside account with passwordless sudo access?
-
The goal is to only use the public and private keys to allow me to sync files from one server to the other via crontab (without needing to be prompted for credentials)
The public and private keys should suffice for that.
-
@DustinB3403 said in CentOS rsync between servers using keyfile to pass credentials:
@RamblingBiped why can't I use the keys generated for this, rather than needing an outside account with passwordless sudo access?
You can, I was just suggesting how I have set up a similar environment in the past. I didn't want to have to screw around with my user's sudo settings. Also I didn't want a job/task such as this tied to a specific user's account either. By setting it up as a separate user it keeps the task from breaking when I leave the company and they kill my credentials.
-
Ok so stepping back from your approach, I have my pub keys copied to each server, why am I being prompted for the id_rsa passphrase, and root password?
-
@DustinB3403 said in CentOS rsync between servers using keyfile to pass credentials:
Ok so stepping back from your approach, I have my pub keys copied to each server, why am I being prompted for the id_rsa passphrase, and root password?
Did you put in a passphrase when asked during the keygen sequence?
-
@DustinB3403 said in CentOS rsync between servers using keyfile to pass credentials:
Ok so stepping back from your approach, I have my pub keys copied to each server, why am I being prompted for the id_rsa passphrase, and root password?
To each? Just to one, right?
-
@Reid-Cooper Correct, I only want to rsync files from one server to the other, not both ways. Using the keys generated.
-
Using the rsync command above, I'm still prompted for the admin password of the target server.
Which the goal is to solely use the public and private keys for this.