Backing up your android based Fairphone FP2 using ssh and rsync without root access

SSHelper configuration

Install SSHelper from google play store or from its homepage here:

You have to let open the SSHelper screen on the phone. In my case after screen is off, connection dies.

SSH configuration

Check connection to your device:

$ ssh <android-ip> -p2222
u0_a115@FP2:/data/data/com.arachnoid.sshelper/home $ exit

Create a specific ssh key for using with your device:

ssh-keygen -b 4096 -t rsa -C "fp2@xy" -f ~/.ssh/id_fp2

Now copy your new key to your device:

$ ssh-copy-id -i ~/.ssh/id_fp2 <android-ip> -p2222
SSHelper Version 8.4 Copyright 2014, P. Lutus
Default password is "admin" (recommend: change it)
user@<android-ip>'s password: 
Number of key(s) added: 1
Now try logging into the machine, with:   "ssh '<android-ip>'"
and check to make sure that only the key(s) you wanted were added.

Check connection with ssh key:

$ ssh -i ~/.ssh/id_fp2 <android-ip> -p2222

Backing up directories

Backing up DCIM/ Documents/ Downloads/ and Android/ in this example:

mkdir -p backup/fp2
rsync -rlcv --stats --progress \
  --exclude=.thumbnails \
  --delete \
  <android-ip>:/storage/emulated/0/{DCIM,Documents,Downloads,Android} ~/backup/fp2 1>&2 || return 1

Happy syncing!

Access via sshfs

$ mkdir -p mnt/fp2
$ sshfs <android-ip>:/storage/emulated/0 mnt/fp2/
$ ls ~/mnt/fp2

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