Linux Cookbook

Recipe 16.10. Limiting rsync's Bandwidth Requirements

16.10.1 Problem

rsync can gobble up your bandwidth in nothing flat; imagine backing up a few gigabytes of ripped audio files on a busy network. What's an easy way to restrict it, without implementing full-blown traffic shaping?

16.10.2 Solution

Use the bwlimit option:

$ rsync -a bwlimit=256 rsync.test.net::testnetftp/ /ftp/mirror

16.10.3 Discussion

bwlimit uses kilobytes per second, so be sure to take this into account when you're calculating what value to use. Remember that most network speeds are measured in kilobits, which are one-eighth the size of kilobytes.

16.10.4 See Also

• rsync(1)