Why does `rsnapshot` repeatedly request password?

Question

My server configuration file has several backup lines that sync changes from my laptop's home directory. Since reinstalling the server OS (OpenSuse), rsnapshot repeatedly requests the laptop password. Passwordless ssh is configured and apparently working correctly - I can ssh into the laptop both as root as well as the regular user.

How could passwordless ssh be properly configured yet be inaccessible to rsnapshot (rsync)?

Answer 1

It occurred to me to take a look at the actual rsync commands being executed. There, I discovered that rsync was attempting to ssh into my laptop not as root but as the regular user. Configuring PKE for this scenario solves the problem.