Re: [gentoo-user] {OT} rdiff-backup: push or pull?

[Grant]

>> Is the purpose of the Host block in .ssh/config to store the hostname
>> of the backup server so it doesn't need to be used directly in the
>> rdiff-backup command?
>
> It forces key-based authentication when connecting to the backup server.
> The default is password-based, which obviously won't work in a cron job.

I don't use an .ssh/config at all and I'm not prompted for a password
if the keys are in place.  My sshd_config is pretty much default and
my normal user is prompted for a password.

>> Why create a password for the backup user?  Doesn't that open up the
>> possibility of someone logging in as that user, when otherwise the
>> account would only be used for backing up files?
>
> It might work without one; in these instructions the
> machine-to-be-backed-up never connects to the backup server as root, and
> so you need a way to SCP stuff to the backup server. I usually use a
> `pwgen 16` password for these accounts and then immediately forget it,
> so nobody will log in to them for a few billion years at least.
>
> Does key-based authentication work with no password? I've never tried.

It does! :)

- Grant