rsync - Aug 2003 - --delete not working when files are pushed to rsync daemon

Hi. I've been having a frustrating problem with rsync that I'm looking
for advice on.

My goal is to syncronize a set of servers with the same libraries,
binaries, and main configuration files without touching the unique data
that exists on the indivudual servers. My --exclude-from file is rather
extensive but it works great when pulling from a daemon. I'm able to
start an rsync daemon on any of the indivudual servers and pull the
system libraries and binaries to a test box without pulling the unique
data on the server.

As I'm trying to move this into production, I've started rsync daemons
on the individual servers, and then on my build server, I run an rsync
in dry-run mode to push /platform out to one of the servers. Any new
or modified files are noticed by the rsync daemon and would be pushed
out, but even though I'm using --delete, files "that don't exist on
the
sending side" are not deleted.

My rsyncd.conf on the individual servers is simple:

[platform]
path = /
use chroot = no
read only = no
uid = root
gid = root
hosts allow = n.n.n.n/m

The command line I use when pushing is slightly longer:

build# rsync -a -vvv -n --delete --exclude-from rsync.excludes /platform/
individual.server::platform

As I mentioned, this works great for new files and modified files. If
/platform/etc/dir and /platform/etc/dir/file are created on the build
server, /etc/dir and /etc/dir/file will be created on the individual
server. However, if /etc/dir/tmp is created on an invididual server, the
next rsync push from the build server will NOT list it as marked for
deletion, even when using --delete.

Does --delete only work when *pulling* from a server? If so, do I have
any options for doing what I'm trying to do without running a daemon on
the build server and pulling from the individual servers?

If any of this is unclear, please let me know and I'll be more than
happy to clarify. Thanks very much for any assistance.

-- 
john

On Wed, Aug 20, 2003 at 07:03:34AM -0500, john@gngsta.com
wrote:
> build# rsync -a -vvv -n --delete --exclude-from rsync.excludes /platform/
individual.server::platform
I assume that the files that are not being deleted are excluded by the
--exclude-from rules -- all files (on both sides) that match these
patterns are excluded both from transfer and from deletion.  You may
wish to try --delete-excluded, but that might delete too much.

If the vanished file is not excluded, you'll need to be more explicit in
exactly what deletion is not happening.  Keep in mind that in the case
of the command above, the deletions that should be happening are in the
individual.server::platform module based on vanished files/directories
on the system that is running the rsync command.

Also, you don't mention what version of rsync you're using.  If it's
older than 2.5.6, please upgrade.

..wayne..