#595967 Make it easier to rsync to VFAT filesystem

Package:
rsync
Source:
rsync
Description:
fast, versatile, remote (and local) file-copying tool
Submitter:
yellow
Date:
2026-05-19 09:37:02 UTC
Severity:
wishlist
#595967#5
Date:
2010-09-07 17:25:20 UTC
From:
To:

~$  rsync -avr pendrive /media/pendrive --delete
sending incremental file list
pendrive/
rsync: chgrp "/media/pendrive/pendrive" failed: Operation not permitted (1)
pendrive/Allemand Confirm (19xx)(Nathan Logiciels)(Fr).st
rsync: mkstemp "/media/pendrive/pendrive/.Allemand Confirm (19xx)(Nathan Logiciels)(Fr).st.pN8rLb" failed: Operation not permitted (1)

sent 737533 bytes  received 35 bytes  1475136.00 bytes/sec
total size is 737280  speedup is 1.00
rsync error: some files/attrs were not transferred (see previous errors) (code 23) at main.c(1060) [sender=3.0.7]


it gives this issue

cp -au  pendrive /media/pendrive  works

best regards

#595967#10
Date:
2010-09-07 19:48:12 UTC
From:
To:
Is "/media/pendrive" perhaps a VFAT filesystem?
If so, the I'm not surprised that trying to set owner/group/permissions
fails.


Paul

#595967#15
Date:
2010-09-08 10:22:14 UTC
From:
To:
Dear Sir,

I can try tonight further about it, for testing.

The issue is that the rsync is not copying any files, simply due to
permissions. I would say that it shall be importnat that the files are
surely copied however the fault permissions.  cp -au works, however the
permisisons small issue.

Well my concern is as follows,a nd is similar issue:
I daily do rely on backing up about 6 TB of data on a server, simply based
on rsync.
In hte past I was using cp -a to be sure that all data, however any
permissions can be copied.

Rsync could be more reliable to avoid any user to loose data during copying,
and ensure a secured way to backup different systems : pendrive, hdd of
windows xp <==> linux , and in making sure that permissions are not a
relevant issue causing for users believe that data are safely backed up...

What do you think about this topic? What is your opinion?

I wish you a pleasant day,

All the best,
Y.

#595967#20
Date:
2010-09-08 10:22:14 UTC
From:
To:
Dear Sir,

I can try tonight further about it, for testing.

The issue is that the rsync is not copying any files, simply due to
permissions. I would say that it shall be importnat that the files are
surely copied however the fault permissions.  cp -au works, however the
permisisons small issue.

Well my concern is as follows,a nd is similar issue:
I daily do rely on backing up about 6 TB of data on a server, simply based
on rsync.
In hte past I was using cp -a to be sure that all data, however any
permissions can be copied.

Rsync could be more reliable to avoid any user to loose data during copying,
and ensure a secured way to backup different systems : pendrive, hdd of
windows xp <==> linux , and in making sure that permissions are not a
relevant issue causing for users believe that data are safely backed up...

What do you think about this topic? What is your opinion?

I wish you a pleasant day,

All the best,
Y.

#595967#25
Date:
2010-09-08 10:22:14 UTC
From:
To:
Dear Sir,

I can try tonight further about it, for testing.

The issue is that the rsync is not copying any files, simply due to
permissions. I would say that it shall be importnat that the files are
surely copied however the fault permissions.  cp -au works, however the
permisisons small issue.

Well my concern is as follows,a nd is similar issue:
I daily do rely on backing up about 6 TB of data on a server, simply based
on rsync.
In hte past I was using cp -a to be sure that all data, however any
permissions can be copied.

Rsync could be more reliable to avoid any user to loose data during copying,
and ensure a secured way to backup different systems : pendrive, hdd of
windows xp <==> linux , and in making sure that permissions are not a
relevant issue causing for users believe that data are safely backed up...

What do you think about this topic? What is your opinion?

I wish you a pleasant day,

All the best,
Y.

#595967#30
Date:
2010-09-08 19:09:32 UTC
From:
To:
If you tell rsync to preserve permissions, and it cannot, how is it to
proceed?  Try with --no-p --no-o --no-g

And you back that up on a VFAT filesystem? Good luck :-)

This is my backup server:

/dev/mapper/vg0-data2
                      7.1T  7.1T   51G 100% /data2
/dev/mapper/vg0-data1
                      7.2T  7.1T   19G 100% /data1

All done with rsync, no problems. I use ext4, very recommended.

You need to use a filesystem that can preserve all the attributes that
you want to backup. VFAT is _not_ such a filesystem. rsync is doing the
right thing by giving an error when you ask it to do something that is
impossible. cp -a doesn't warn you (apparently, I haven't checked).
Maybe using tar to backup the files to a single tar file on the VFAT
filesystem may be better for your purpose, although you are then missing
out on rsync features when making a second backup etc.
If you don't need compatibility with Microsoft-based systems, you could
reformat the stick to ext4 or so.

Note also for preserving owner/group you need to run as root; it looks
like you are not (your ~$ prompt suggests this).


Paul

#595967#35
Date:
2010-10-13 13:14:00 UTC
From:
To:
Dear Paul,

I am glad of your complete reply. It is nice that you freely exchange about
the program, giving your impressiosn and some background.

So, to say, I have been trying your command, and implemented it into my code
for sync my folder pendrive of my $HOME to the real pendrive. it seems to
works completely well, i.e. LINUX => FAT
so I find it working, and cool, and it is du -hs checking always perfectly
matching.
two ideas:
 -  a sort of du -hs could be implemented to check bytes levels if all is
righly copied on the program rsync, if not && / || could let user to output
an error or success message. This could be involqued by --check-du or
whatever.


However, the main point of my concern:
--no-p --no-o --no-g
the switches are highly complicated for the newbie or ubuntu user that
simply want to backup its linux pendrive to fat of pendrive.
It could eb simplified by createing a new simple command that is taking
those swtiches . --no-p --no-o --no-g
such as rsync -avr source target* --force-fat*

A new though.. I am daily using your powerful command to backup my
/home to /backup
this is avoid raid and virus or wahtever raid issues that could occurs.
However I am concerned by a thing. I absolutely never checked it has been
done well since many month, since your reply, if the backup is performing
well ... well, this is living on the edges, and relaying on a simple command
could be dangerous if a crash occurs.
Since it is the server (you have one too) it is lot of relevant data, and it
might be good that admin gets notify if something went wrong during teh
backup... what do you think ? I know that tehre is potential for admins for
makign rsync backups even more secured, or it could automatically do some :
echo "error $(date)"  | mutt -s "rsync"   `cat /root/.emailroot`
to warn, but well , you know that email from root over mutt or gmail or
inteernet is dangerous / security

Well, some ideas,
- man, I really have to take time to check whether this crontabed rsync is
performing well,... maybe one day before a possible crash happen ...

All the best, and wishing you nice autumn

Yellow

#595967#44
Date:
2017-02-03 16:22:04 UTC
From:
To:
Dear Customer,

UPS courier was unable to contact you for your parcel delivery.

Please check delivery label attached!

Yours sincerely,
Jeffrey Strong,
UPS Office Manager.

#595967#49
Date:
2017-02-22 03:49:14 UTC
From:
To:
Dear Customer,

Your parcel was successfully delivered February 21 to UPS Station, but our courier cound not contact you.

Please review delivery label in attachment!

With anticipation,
Jeffery Swartz,
UPS Chief Support Manager.

#595967#54
Date:
2026-05-19 09:34:58 UTC
From:
To:
Hello yellow,
I would recommend to report this issue/wish to the upstream rsync
project. If you tried please link the ticket here.

Thank you
Christian Buhtz