Backup & Recovery (Rsync/Tar/Dd)
Stop assuming rsync preserves your extended attributes
🧩 The Challenge
You finally moved your critical web assets to a new server, but suddenly the permissions and SELinux contexts are a total disaster. It’s infuriating when files land on the new drive but the metadata that actually makes them work is left behind.
đź’ˇ The Fix
You need to explicitly tell rsync to reach into the extended attributes and ACLs, because it ignores them by default. It’s the only way to make a remote move feel like a local clone.
rsync -avHAX --numeric-ids /source/path/ user@remote:/destination/path/⚙️ Why It Works
Adding the X flag forces rsync to handle extended attributes, while A ensures all your ACLs carry over instead of getting stripped out during the transfer.
🚀 Pro-Tip: Use –numeric-ids so you don’t end up with broken file ownership if your UIDs don’t match exactly on the destination box.
Linux Tips & Tricks | © ngelinux.com | 8/27/2026