rsync over SSH from Windows to Linux : strange error.

Hi !

This is a classical use : i'm trying to backup a Win2K client onto a
Linux Debian server. I chose to do it with rsync through SSH. Right
now, all the pieces (rsync and ssh) are working perfectly when used
separatly, but I can't get rsync to actually work when called with the
--rsh= option.

Here is what I have :

- SSH2 server is set up on the Linux server & SSH2 clients (both win32
and command-line) are on the Windows machine. SSH is working
perfectly, and I can log manually onto the Linux server from Windows
in command-line using public key authentification (so no password is
asked). I'm using old ssh2.com's tools v2.40 for this evaluation.

- rsync 2.6.0-2 (Debian) is installed on the Linux server, and has a
single module called "backup" defined in rsynd.conf. On the Windows
machine, I'm using a partial Cygwin install (cygwin1.dll 1.5.7 and
cygpopt-0.dll) with the rsync.exe binary (2.6.0) in the same
directory.
rsync seems to be working all right by itself : if I start a rsync
*server* on the Linux server I can then manually use rsync on Windows
as a client to do actually do syncs. This works fine.

My problem is when I try to automate this.

Doing (on Windows) rsync -vvv -rsh="ssh2 -p 2222 -x -l backup" foo:
(to list the module on the Linux server) yelds a :

cmd=ssh2 -p 2222 -x -l backup machine=foo user=backup path=
cmd=ssh2 -p 2222 -x -l backup -l backup foo rsync --server --sender
-vvvvr .
opening connection using ssh2 -p 2222 -x -l backup -l backup foo rsync
--server --sender -vvvvr .
_exit_cleanup(code=12, file=/home/lapo/packaging/tmp/rsync-2.6.0/io.c,
line=189): entered
_exit_cleanup(code=12, file=/home/lapo/packaging/tmp/rsync-2.6.0/io.c,
line=189): about to call exit(12)

rsync: connection unexpectedly closed (0 bytes read so far)
rsync error: error in rsync protocol data stream (code 12) at
/home/lapo/packagi
ng/tmp/rsync-2.6.0/io.c(189)

Notes :

- both path are setup. On the server, rsync is in /usr/bin which is
accessible to the backup user. On Windows, I'm running the command
from the directory where rsync & cygwin sit.

- user "backup" has read/write/execute permission in the path defined
for rsync's module.

- the rsync's PID file is in a writeable dir for user backup.

I did my homework, read man pages, tutorials, scoured the web & news
for answers, but found none. Most of the problems I read about this
"rsync protocol data stream (code 12)" error where related to the
shell being unable to find rsync on the remote machine, which is not
the problem here. I even don't get an error from rsync before it's
being disconnected.

I'm sure I'm missing something obvious, like a parameter or
something... but can't get to it. Anyone would have an idea ?

Full strace log on the windows side is available if needed .

Thanks !

l.

I too have had similar errors trying to get SSH2 working with a few
versions of rsync/cygwin.

I have tried windows rsync upto version 2.6.0 protocol version 27,
and corresponding cygwin/cygpopt-0

I also experienced the same errors with rsync v 2.4.6, 2.5.5 & related
cygwin bits.

I am using SSH.com's ssh2.exe (non-commercial) SSH Secure Shell 3.2.9
Windows Client.

SSH2 by itself works fine, I can connect to the RH8.0 box with public
key auth (as I also can with SSH1).

I can do an rsync -e ssh -avzp source dest OK, but that's using SSH1
which ettercap nicely unsecures, and as I would like to do this rsync
via internet, I'd rather it be slightly more secure...

So, here's a dump for anyone who can possibly shed some light?! I did
read the io.c source and in there it specifically mentions issues with
rsync <2.4.6 causing an invalid exit, but assuming post 2.4.6 should
all be OK. As can be seen, SSH2 _does_ connect OK, but handing to
rsync for the transport fails.

rsync -e "ssh2 -v -l root" -avzp "/cygdrive/c/rsync3"
"192.168.3.1:/me/backup"
debug: Ssh2: License file not found, certificates & smart cards
disabled.
debug: Ssh2: User config file not found, using defaults. (Looked for
'C:/Docum
ts and Settings/Administrator/Application Data/SSH/ssh2_config')
debug: Connecting to 192.168.3.1, port 22... (SOCKS not used)
debug: Ssh2Transport: My version: SSH-1.99-3.2.9 SSH Secure Shell
Windows Clie

debug: client supports 2 auth methods: 'publickey,password'
debug: Ssh2Common: local ip = 192.168.1.10, local port = 3415
debug: Ssh2Common: remote ip = 192.168.3.1, remote port = 22
debug: SshConnection: Wrapping...
debug: Remote version: SSH-1.99-OpenSSH_3.4p1
debug: OpenSSH: Major: 3 Minor: 4 Revision: 0
debug: Ssh2Transport: All versions of OpenSSH handle kex guesses
incorrectly.
debug: Ssh2Transport: lang s to c: `', lang c to s: `'
debug: Ssh2Transport: c_to_s: cipher aes128-cbc, mac hmac-sha1,
compression no

debug: Ssh2Transport: s_to_c: cipher aes128-cbc, mac hmac-sha1,
compression no

debug: Remote host key found from database.
debug: Ssh2Common: Received SSH_CROSS_STARTUP packet from connection
protocol.
debug: Ssh2Common: Received SSH_CROSS_ALGORITHMS packet from
connection protoc
..
debug: server offers auth methods
'publickey,password,keyboard-interactive'.
debug: Ssh2AuthPubKeyClient: Starting pubkey auth...
debug: Ssh2AuthPubKeyClient: Agent is not running.
debug: Ssh2AuthPubKeyClient: Got 0 keys from the agent.
debug: SshConfig: Unable to open C:/Documents and
Settings/Administrator/Appli
tion Data/SSH/identification
debug: SshUnixUserFiles: Keys for login not specified in 'C:/Documents
and Set
ngs/Administrator/Application Data/SSH/identification', using all keys
availab
..
debug: Ssh2AuthPubKeyClient: adding keyfile "C:/Documents and
Settings/Adminis
ator/Application Data/SSH/userkeys/az" to candidates
debug: Ssh2AuthPubKeyClient: Trying 1 key candidates.
debug: Constructing and sending signature in publickey authentication.
debug: Ssh2AuthPubKeyClient: reading private key C:/Documents and
Settings/Adm
istrator/Application Data/SSH/userkeys/az
debug: Ssh2AuthPubKeyClient: Public key authentication was successful.
debug: Ssh2Common: Received SSH_CROSS_AUTHENTICATED packet from
connection pro
col.
debug: Ssh2Common: num_channels now 1
debug: Ssh2ChannelSession: Requesting x11 forwarding
debug: Ssh2ChannelSession: Requesting SSH2 agent forwarding
debug: Ssh2ChannelSession: Requesting command rsync --server
-vlogDtprz . /hom
backup
debug: SshConnection: EOF from channel stream
rsync: connection unexpectedly closed (0 bytes read so far)
rsync error: error in rsync protocol data stream (code 12) at
io.c(150)
debug: Ssh2ChannelSession: received exit status : 12
debug: Ssh2Common: num_channels now 0
debug: Got session close with exit_status=12
debug: Ssh2Common: Destroying SshCommon object.
debug: SshConnection: Destroying SshConn object.
rsync: read error: Connection reset by peer
rsync error: error in rsync protocol data stream (code 12) at
/home/lapo/packa
ng/tmp/rsync-2.6.0/io.c(201)



laurent75@netcourrier.com (Laurent_wiz) wrote in message news:<bdb96a14.0402280758.2c9a4420@posting.google. com>...
> Hi !
>
> This is a classical use : i'm trying to backup a Win2K client onto a
> Linux Debian server. I chose to do it with rsync through SSH. Right
> now, all the pieces (rsync and ssh) are working perfectly when used
> separatly, but I can't get rsync to actually work when called with the
> --rsh= option.
>
> Here is what I have :
>
> - SSH2 server is set up on the Linux server & SSH2 clients (both win32
> and command-line) are on the Windows machine. SSH is working
> perfectly, and I can log manually onto the Linux server from Windows
> in command-line using public key authentification (so no password is
> asked). I'm using old ssh2.com's tools v2.40 for this evaluation.
>
> - rsync 2.6.0-2 (Debian) is installed on the Linux server, and has a
> single module called "backup" defined in rsynd.conf. On the Windows
> machine, I'm using a partial Cygwin install (cygwin1.dll 1.5.7 and
> cygpopt-0.dll) with the rsync.exe binary (2.6.0) in the same
> directory.
> rsync seems to be working all right by itself : if I start a rsync
> *server* on the Linux server I can then manually use rsync on Windows
> as a client to do actually do syncs. This works fine.
>
> My problem is when I try to automate this.
>
> Doing (on Windows) rsync -vvv -rsh="ssh2 -p 2222 -x -l backup" foo:
> (to list the module on the Linux server) yelds a :
>
> cmd=ssh2 -p 2222 -x -l backup machine=foo user=backup path=
> cmd=ssh2 -p 2222 -x -l backup -l backup foo rsync --server --sender
> -vvvvr .
> opening connection using ssh2 -p 2222 -x -l backup -l backup foo rsync
> --server --sender -vvvvr .
> _exit_cleanup(code=12, file=/home/lapo/packaging/tmp/rsync-2.6.0/io.c,
> line=189): entered
> _exit_cleanup(code=12, file=/home/lapo/packaging/tmp/rsync-2.6.0/io.c,
> line=189): about to call exit(12)
>
> rsync: connection unexpectedly closed (0 bytes read so far)
> rsync error: error in rsync protocol data stream (code 12) at
> /home/lapo/packagi
> ng/tmp/rsync-2.6.0/io.c(189)
>
> Notes :
>
> - both path are setup. On the server, rsync is in /usr/bin which is
> accessible to the backup user. On Windows, I'm running the command
> from the directory where rsync & cygwin sit.
>
> - user "backup" has read/write/execute permission in the path defined
> for rsync's module.
>
> - the rsync's PID file is in a writeable dir for user backup.
>
> I did my homework, read man pages, tutorials, scoured the web & news
> for answers, but found none. Most of the problems I read about this
> "rsync protocol data stream (code 12)" error where related to the
> shell being unable to find rsync on the remote machine, which is not
> the problem here. I even don't get an error from rsync before it's
> being disconnected.
>
> I'm sure I'm missing something obvious, like a parameter or
> something... but can't get to it. Anyone would have an idea ?
>
> Full strace log on the windows side is available if needed .
>
> Thanks !
>
> l.

OK, after a bit (READ: waaay too long reading and googling...) of
investigation, I've found a solution which works for me.

Basically I tried everything I could think of to get the SSH2 client
from SSH.com working with the rsync app, and nothing would work. So, I
switched to using OpenSSH, and it works perfectly!

I googled for openssh windows binaries (not being the type to buld my
own...), and found version 3.7.1p1 avail
(http://lexa.mckenna.edu/sshwindows/). It took some reading and
messing about to get it to install and run as I wanted it to, but in
the end, all worth it.

I've now got a win client which can rsync using ssh2 to my linux box,
and I am less concerned about MITMs from things like ettercap for now.

Hope this helps,

Adrian