[rdiff-backup-users] backing up /etc

[peter]

hi,

i was wondering if theres a better way to backup /etc without giving 
root a ssh key and allow access via ssh to a remote system that holds 
the backups?

of course you could tar /etc as root, change permissions on the tar 
check with the last etc tar that still resides locally if the md5 
changed and then transfer it (if it got a different md5)
or will the md5 change no matter if the content stays the same?

maybe thats the best alternative considering that there are not so many 
changes.