Use rsync over SSH to sync files securely between Raspberry Pi displays. SSH encrypts the transfer and authenticates the remote host; a direct rsync daemon connection does not encrypt file data. Enable SSH on the receiving Pi, use a protected SSH key, restrict the transfer account to the files it needs, and check the installed rsync version on both devices.
Why use rsync over SSH?
Rsync can send files through a remote shell, usually SSH, or connect directly to an rsync daemon. The rsync manual describes SSH as the safe default because it authenticates the peer and encrypts the connection: rsync(1) security documentation.
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A daemon connection, written with a double colon after the host or as an rsync:// URL, is not encrypted by the rsync daemon protocol—even if daemon authentication is enabled. Use SSH remote-shell transport for a straightforward protected transfer. If your installation specifically needs daemon modules, protect the connection with an SSH tunnel or a verified TLS transport, and account for version and build differences in daemon authentication support. See the rsync daemon configuration manual.
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How do I use rsync over SSH?
First decide which Pi sends the files and which receives them. The official Raspberry Pi example is one-way; adapt its host, account, and paths to your setup. In the command below, the remote Pi is the source and the local computer is the destination, so reverse the roles or run the command on the other Pi as needed:
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rsync -avz -e ssh <pi_username>@<pi_ip_address>:<pi_folder_name>/ <destination_folder>/The -e ssh option makes the transport explicit. Raspberry Pi documents this pattern for syncing from a Pi to another computer: Raspberry Pi remote-access documentation.
- Enable SSH on the receiving Pi. Raspberry Pi OS disables its SSH server by default. Enable it in the desktop settings, during OS imaging, or using a documented terminal or configuration method. The Pi that initiates the transfer needs an SSH client; the receiving Pi needs the server enabled.
- Set up key-based authentication. Use an SSH key for the initiating device, keep its private key on that device, and protect the key file and any passphrase. Raspberry Pi’s operational-security guidance recommends key-based authentication.
- Substitute the actual account, address, and paths. Replace each angle-bracketed value. The remote path before the space is the source; the path after it is the destination. Confirm that the account can access the source and write to the destination.
- Check the trailing slash and destination contents. A trailing slash on the source directory means to copy its contents into the destination directory. Inspect the command and destination before automating it so the direction and resulting directory layout are intentional.
- Run a manual transfer before scheduling it. Confirm the expected files arrive at the right location, then incorporate the same explicit SSH transport into your scheduled job.
How should you limit transfer access?
Encryption protects traffic in transit, but a credential that can access every file on a Pi creates a larger risk if it is misused. Give the transfer account access only to the directories and operations the job requires.
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The rsync project’s rrsync manual describes restricting an SSH key to rsync activity within a specified directory, including read-only arrangements. Review its shell caveat and test the intended restrictions before relying on them. Keep the private key protected even when the remote account is constrained.
When is rsync daemon mode appropriate?
Daemon mode can be useful when an installation depends on daemon modules or other daemon-specific features. It is not an encrypted substitute for SSH: daemon authentication does not encrypt transferred files. Compare the options against the needs of your setup:
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| Consideration | Rsync over SSH | Direct rsync daemon |
|---|---|---|
| Encryption and peer authentication | SSH encrypts the connection and authenticates the peer. | The daemon protocol does not encrypt transferred data; authentication alone does not change that. |
| Daemon modules | Use when ordinary remote-shell transfer meets the requirement. | Useful when daemon modules or daemon-specific features are needed. |
| Network exposure | Expose the SSH service only as required by your network and firewall configuration. | Requires considering daemon network exposure; protect sensitive traffic with SSH tunneling or verified TLS. |
| Access limits | SSH accounts and keys can be constrained, including with rrsync. | Apply daemon-appropriate module and account restrictions. |
| Compatibility | Check the installed rsync versions on both devices. | Check installed versions and build-specific daemon authentication support. |
Keep Raspberry Pi OS and rsync updated
The rsync project says version 3.5.0 fixed 33 security issues and advises upgrading installations older than 3.5.0, subject to the affected versions and conditions in individual advisories. The project homepage reports that rsync 3.5.1 was released on September 21, 2026 to fix regressions reported after 3.5.0 and add protocol 33: rsync project homepage and security information.
Those upstream release numbers do not tell you which version is installed on a particular Raspberry Pi OS release. Check the package installed on each device and apply supported OS updates; do not assume an upstream release is already available or installed on your Pi.
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