When working on backup systems I hacked together a script that would allow a set of commands, sometimes with substitutions, through a single ssh key. I figured someone else must have this needs and have designed a more robust program. So far the closet thing I have found it authprogs. It has some features my script lacks but lacks some features that my script possesses. So I’m not sure it I’ll use it or just borrow ideas to improve my script.

• The Authprogs SSH Command Authenticator

• 6 Ways to Run Shell Commands in Ruby
• Ruby Core RDoc
• UnattendedRdiff (RdiffBackupWiki)
• NoteOnSudo (RdiffBackupWiki)
• Shell and Command Questions
• rdiff-backup - bug #16897, Security Violation on first…
• rdiff-backup - Bugs

I've been putting together a backup strategy utilizing backupninja, rdiff-backup, and ssh keys. I was hopeful that the "restrict-update-only" rdiff-backup option could be used to create an rdiff-backup server that could be used only for adding increments and prevent the removal of increments. Unfortunately that seems to not be the case and I'm forced to switch to a pull strategy which is far more complicated. I'm quite disappointed.