Credential access
Reads SSH keys, source files, and paths selected for transfer.
brew / rank 376
Install rsync with Homebrew, apk, chocolatey, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper
Utility that provides fast incremental file transfer. Version 3.5.0 via Homebrew; verified 2026-09-10. Also installable with debian: sudo apt install rsync.
agent safety
Agent safety answer
rsync transfers files locally or remotely and can overwrite or delete destinations.
Remote mutation
Can sync, overwrite, or delete files on remote hosts.
Publish/artifact risk
Can publish build artifacts or remove deployed files.
Recommended control
Gate remote syncs, deletes, and secret-bearing source paths.
Agent-use guidance
Allow dry runs; require approval for remote writes, deletes, and transfers of sensitive paths.
install
Additional install commands
macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install rsynclocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install rsyncMacPorts ports tree · net/rsync/Portfile · source: api.github.com
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add rsyncAlpine Linux edge package indexes · rsync · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install rsyncDebian stable package indexes · rsync · source: deb.debian.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install rsyncFedora Rawhide package metadata · rsync · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#rsyncnixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/rs/rsync/package.nix · source: api.github.com
Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S rsyncArch Linux sync databases · rsync · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install rsyncopenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · rsync · source: download.opensuse.org
Windows
Chocolateyverified · 92%
choco install rsyncChocolatey community package catalog · rsync · source: community.chocolatey.org
overview
Package summary
Utility that provides fast incremental file transfer
Project links
Commands and aliases
- rrsync
- rsync
- rsync-ssl
history
Project history and usage
rsync is a GPL-licensed utility for fast incremental file transfer. It minimizes transferred data when updating files and directory trees and can operate locally, through remote shells such as SSH, or using its own daemon protocol.
Project history
Andrew Tridgell developed the rsync algorithm from research into parallel filesystems and external sorting, with source copyrights dating to 1996. The project subsequently evolved beyond its original remote-update mechanism with incremental recursion, ACL and extended-attribute support, character-set conversion, and continuing protocol and security work.
Adoption history
rsync became a standard Unix-like systems tool for local copying, remote synchronization, deployment, mirroring, and backup. The supplied package mappings show distribution through Homebrew, Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora-family, Alpine, Arch, Nix, MacPorts, Chocolatey, and openSUSE ecosystems.
How it is used
Users commonly invoke rsync for one-way directory synchronization, remote copying over SSH, incremental backups, software deployment, and content mirroring. Daemon deployments normally use `/etc/rsyncd.conf`; a non-root daemon started through a remote shell instead defaults to `rsyncd.conf` in its current directory, typically `$HOME`.
Credentials have no single universal file location. A client password file is explicitly selected with `--password-file`, while daemon-side username/password records are stored in the administrator-selected `secrets file`; the official daemon documentation states that this setting has no default.
Why package nerds care
rsync is package-nerd infrastructure: a compact command whose delta-transfer behavior, metadata preservation, filter rules, SSH transport, daemon mode, and scriptability underpin countless backup and deployment workflows. Its famously dense option set also rewards careful version and platform awareness.
Timeline
- 1996: Early rsync source and algorithm work by Andrew Tridgell and Paul Mackerras.
- 2008: rsync 3.0 introduced incremental recursion and officially added features including ACLs, extended attributes, and filename character-set conversion.
- 2026: The official project continued publishing rsync 3.4 maintenance releases.
Related projects
- Samba hosts the official rsync project site. rsync-time-backup builds snapshot-style backup behavior around rsync, while rsyncy wraps rsync output with a consolidated progress display.
Sources
security posture
Risk level: blue
doc example: file synchronization tool.
Risk classifier
blue risk · high confidence · tool
Why
- doc example: file synchronization tool
Signals
- override:rsync
Install behavior
- No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
- Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 6 platform targets.
- Installs with 5 runtime dependencies.
Recommended review
Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.
local files
Configuration and credential file locations
These source-backed paths show where this package keeps local settings or durable credentials. Automic Vault can use them as review targets for secret scanning, migration, and command approval.
Configuration files
Config paths the tool may read or write during local use.
- Unix
~/.rsyncd.conf~/.config/rsync/rsyncd.conf
Credential files
Credential-bearing paths to review before unattended agent runs.
- Unix
~/.rsync_pass~/.rsync-password~/.rsync.pass~/.rsyncd.conf~/.config/rsync/rsyncd.conf
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
rrsync | cli | global executable | |
rsync | cli | global executable | |
rsync-ssl | cli | global executable |
freshness
Version and freshness
These signals separate page generation age, package-manager activity, and upstream release comparison. Version lag is warned only when an evidence URL and comparable versions are present.
page generated2026-09-19
manager version3.5.0
manager updated2026-09-10
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
https://github.com/RsyncProject/rsync
- infoNo cached GitHub release or tag data was available.https://github.com/RsyncProject/rsyncnone confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:rsync |
|---|---|
| Version | 3.5.0 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/rsync |
| Homepage | https://rsync.samba.org/ |
| Repository | https://github.com/RsyncProject/rsync |
| Upstream docs | https://rsync.samba.org/ |
| License | GPL-3.0-or-later |
| Source archive | https://github.com/RsyncProject/rsync/releases/download/v3.5.0/rsync-3.5.0.tar.gz |
| Last updated | 2026-09-10T08:33:29Z |
| Pulse | updated |
| Dependencies | lz4, openssl@3, popt, xxhash, zstd |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux) |
| Homebrew post-install | not defined |
| Service | none declared |
registry facts
Source database details
| Source Database | Homebrew formula API |
|---|---|
| Tap | homebrew/core |
| Full Name | rsync |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 0 |
| Bottle Stable Root URL | https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core |
| Deprecated | no |
| Disabled | no |
| Keg Only | no |
| URL Keys |
|
source database matches
Other package-manager records
Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.
Debian apt95%
rsync 3.4.1+ds1-5+deb13u4
fast, versatile, remote (and local) file-copying tool
sudo apt install rsync- Section: net
- Architecture: amd64
- 8 dependencies
- 4 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Rsync
Nix95%
rsync
nix profile install nixpkgs#rsync- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Rsync
Ubuntu apt95%
rsync 3.2.7-1ubuntu1
fast, versatile, remote (and local) file-copying tool
sudo apt install rsync- Section: net
- Architecture: amd64
- 9 dependencies
- 4 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Rsync
apk95%
rrsync 3.4.4-r0
Restricted rsync, restricts rsync to a subdir declared in .ssh/authorized_keys
sudo apk add rrsync- License: GPL-3.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: rsync
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Rsync
apk95%
rsync 3.4.4-r0
A file transfer program to keep remote files in sync
sudo apk add rsync- License: GPL-3.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: rsync
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Rsync
apk95%
rsync-doc 3.4.4-r0
A file transfer program to keep remote files in sync (documentation)
sudo apk add rsync-doc- License: GPL-3.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: rsync
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Rsync
apk95%
rsync-openrc 3.4.4-r0
A file transfer program to keep remote files in sync (OpenRC init scripts)
sudo apk add rsync-openrc- License: GPL-3.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: rsync
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Rsync
dnf95%
rsync 3.5.0-1.fc46
A program for synchronizing files over a network
sudo dnf install rsync- License: GPL-3.0-or-later
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: rsync
- 9 dependencies
- 3 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Rsync
dnf95%
rsync-daemon 3.5.0-1.fc46
Service for anonymous access to rsync
sudo dnf install rsync-daemon- License: GPL-3.0-or-later
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: noarch
- Source Package: rsync
- 3 dependencies
- 2 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Rsync
dnf95%
rsync-rrsync 3.5.0-1.fc46
A script to setup restricted rsync users via ssh logins
sudo dnf install rsync-rrsync- License: GPL-3.0-or-later
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: noarch
- Source Package: rsync
- 3 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Rsync
pacman95%
rsync 3.5.0-1
A fast and versatile file copying tool for remote and local files
sudo pacman -S rsync- License: GPL-3.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- 9 dependencies
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Rsync
zypper95%
rsync 3.4.3-2.3
Versatile tool for fast incremental file transfer
sudo zypper install rsync- License: GPL-3.0-or-later
- Category: Productivity/Networking/Other
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: rsync
- 12 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Rsync
MacPorts95%
rsync
sudo port install rsync- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Rsync
Chocolatey95%
rsync
choco install rsync- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Rsync
Nix92%
rrsync
nix profile install nixpkgs#rrsync- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Rrsync
source trail
Generated from repository data
This page is generated by av-web from the private package SQLite artifact built by scripts/generate-pkg-sqlite.py.
Combined YAML source
View the package source record on GitHub.
Used sources
- Geiger risk classifier
- cross-ecosystem install command graph
- curated agent safety answer
- curated configuration and credential file locations
- curated package history
- external package-manager database matches
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment
- pkg.so package database
- pkgdb category and tag curation