Please describe the problem.
git-annex leaves many stray processes around on a remote SSH server.
What steps will reproduce the problem?
I'm not exactly sure, to be honest. I have setup a user for a friend on my home server with the following SSH key:
command="git-annex-shell -c \"$SSH_ORIGINAL_COMMAND\"",restrict ssh-rsa AAAAB[...]
They use that access to synchronize a repository in /srv/media which is read-only for them, thanks to simple file permissions (files are owned by another user and another group).
The friend uses the assistant to see progress of their transfers and regularly keep their local copy up to date. I suspect what is happening is the assistant is trying to push local changes to the remote server, and fails to do so.
What version of git-annex are you using? On what operating system?
The remote git-annex client is, I believe, the 6.20170101-1+deb9u2 version shipped in Debian stable. The server is running 7.20190122-1~bpo9+1 on Debian stretch.
Please provide any additional information below.
Here's a dump of the stray processes:
# ps axfu | grep friend
root 8493 0.0 0.0 114176 7272 ? Ss 12:24 0:00 \_ sshd: friend [priv]
friend 8502 0.0 0.0 114360 4536 ? S 12:24 0:00 | \_ sshd: friend@notty
friend 8511 0.0 0.0 1074101432 7760 ? Ssl 12:24 0:00 | \_ git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 8520 0.0 0.0 39356 3248 ? Sl 12:24 0:00 | \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
root 16282 0.0 0.0 114176 7240 ? Ss 12:51 0:00 \_ sshd: friend [priv]
friend 16291 0.0 0.0 115036 5292 ? S 12:51 0:00 | \_ sshd: friend@notty
friend 16298 0.0 0.0 1074101432 7792 ? Ssl 12:51 0:00 | \_ git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 16302 0.0 0.0 39356 3280 ? Sl 12:51 0:00 | | \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 16312 0.0 0.0 1074101432 7720 ? Ssl 12:52 0:00 | \_ git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 16317 0.0 0.0 39356 3276 ? Sl 12:52 0:00 | | \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 16324 0.0 0.0 1074101432 7828 ? Ssl 12:52 0:00 | \_ git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 16328 0.0 0.0 39356 3336 ? Sl 12:52 0:00 | | \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 20296 0.0 0.0 1074101432 7680 ? Ssl 13:06 0:00 | \_ git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 20300 0.0 0.0 39356 3260 ? Sl 13:06 0:00 | \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
root 32041 0.0 0.0 14004 972 pts/5 S+ 13:49 0:00 \_ grep friend
friend 25870 0.0 0.0 65116 4560 ? Ss fév02 0:00 /lib/systemd/systemd --user
friend 25874 0.0 0.0 244548 720 ? S fév02 0:00 \_ (sd-pam)
friend 25952 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2088 ? Ssl fév02 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 25956 0.0 0.0 39172 564 ? Sl fév02 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 26062 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2196 ? Ssl fév02 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 26066 0.0 0.0 39172 548 ? Sl fév02 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 29069 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2188 ? Ssl fév02 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 29073 0.0 0.0 39172 608 ? Sl fév02 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 30475 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2140 ? Ssl fév02 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 30488 0.0 0.0 39172 568 ? Sl fév02 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 30476 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2196 ? Ssl fév02 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 30492 0.0 0.0 39172 780 ? Sl fév02 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 30477 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2244 ? Ssl fév02 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 30485 0.0 0.0 39172 544 ? Sl fév02 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 30478 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2140 ? Ssl fév02 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 30495 0.0 0.0 39172 740 ? Sl fév02 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 30499 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2220 ? Ssl fév02 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 30503 0.0 0.0 39172 628 ? Sl fév02 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 30505 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2096 ? Ssl fév02 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 30510 0.0 0.0 39172 588 ? Sl fév02 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 30506 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2140 ? Ssl fév02 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 30514 0.0 0.0 39172 728 ? Sl fév02 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 30546 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2076 ? Ssl fév02 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 30550 0.0 0.0 39172 588 ? Sl fév02 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 16664 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2144 ? Ssl fév02 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 16668 0.0 0.0 39172 756 ? Sl fév02 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 5225 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2520 ? Ssl fév03 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 5229 0.0 0.0 39324 904 ? Sl fév03 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 25302 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2256 ? Ssl fév03 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 25337 0.0 0.0 39356 328 ? Sl fév03 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 25304 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2408 ? Ssl fév03 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 25342 0.0 0.0 39356 376 ? Sl fév03 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 25305 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2248 ? Ssl fév03 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 25336 0.0 0.0 39356 340 ? Sl fév03 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 25307 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2432 ? Ssl fév03 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 25341 0.0 0.0 39356 364 ? Sl fév03 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 25362 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2392 ? Ssl fév03 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 25366 0.0 0.0 39356 400 ? Sl fév03 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 25386 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2136 ? Ssl fév03 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 25399 0.0 0.0 39356 564 ? Sl fév03 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 25387 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2440 ? Ssl fév03 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 25400 0.0 0.0 39356 500 ? Sl fév03 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 25388 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2136 ? Ssl fév03 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 25394 0.0 0.0 39356 420 ? Sl fév03 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 1181 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2308 ? Ssl fév03 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 1186 0.0 0.0 39356 380 ? Sl fév03 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 6483 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2336 ? Ssl fév03 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 6487 0.0 0.0 39356 436 ? Sl fév03 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 9714 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2340 ? Ssl fév03 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 9718 0.0 0.0 39356 360 ? Sl fév03 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 9117 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2392 ? Ssl fév04 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 9121 0.0 0.0 39356 536 ? Sl fév04 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 13542 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2264 ? Ssl fév04 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 13558 0.0 0.0 39356 436 ? Sl fév04 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 13543 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2328 ? Ssl fév04 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 13553 0.0 0.0 39356 532 ? Sl fév04 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 13544 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2272 ? Ssl fév04 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 13561 0.0 0.0 39356 540 ? Sl fév04 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 13545 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2380 ? Ssl fév04 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 13560 0.0 0.0 39356 592 ? Sl fév04 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 1940 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2264 ? Ssl fév04 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 1944 0.0 0.0 39356 468 ? Sl fév04 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 8515 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2348 ? Ssl fév04 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 8519 0.0 0.0 39356 520 ? Sl fév04 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 11968 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2424 ? Ssl fév04 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 11972 0.0 0.0 39356 640 ? Sl fév04 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 24944 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2264 ? Ssl fév04 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 24948 0.0 0.0 39356 504 ? Sl fév04 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 25327 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2416 ? Ssl fév04 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 25335 0.0 0.0 39356 668 ? Sl fév04 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 10241 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2272 ? Ssl fév04 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 10245 0.0 0.0 39356 552 ? Sl fév04 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 15442 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2272 ? Ssl fév04 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 15446 0.0 0.0 39356 524 ? Sl fév04 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 16915 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2248 ? Ssl fév04 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 16919 0.0 0.0 39356 592 ? Sl fév04 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 29211 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2420 ? Ssl fév04 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 29215 0.0 0.0 39356 552 ? Sl fév04 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 1623 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2220 ? Ssl fév04 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 1630 0.0 0.0 39356 312 ? Sl fév04 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 1624 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2360 ? Ssl fév04 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 1632 0.0 0.0 39356 268 ? Sl fév04 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 11255 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2312 ? Ssl fév04 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 11259 0.0 0.0 39356 340 ? Sl fév04 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 29421 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2424 ? Ssl fév04 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 29425 0.0 0.0 39356 260 ? Sl fév04 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 8089 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2220 ? Ssl fév04 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 8100 0.0 0.0 39356 372 ? Sl fév04 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 8090 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2024 ? Ssl fév04 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 8101 0.0 0.0 39356 432 ? Sl fév04 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 8091 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2048 ? Ssl fév04 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 8103 0.0 0.0 39356 500 ? Sl fév04 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 32567 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2680 ? Ssl fév05 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 32571 0.0 0.0 39356 588 ? Sl fév05 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 3556 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2672 ? Ssl fév05 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 3561 0.0 0.0 39356 632 ? Sl fév05 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 3557 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2688 ? Ssl fév05 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 3565 0.0 0.0 39356 656 ? Sl fév05 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 3566 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2816 ? Ssl fév05 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 3578 0.0 0.0 39356 680 ? Sl fév05 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 3567 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2656 ? Ssl fév05 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 3577 0.0 0.0 39356 916 ? Sl fév05 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 3587 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2880 ? Ssl fév05 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 3591 0.0 0.0 39356 956 ? Sl fév05 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 14117 0.0 0.0 1074101432 3444 ? Ssl fév05 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 14121 0.0 0.0 39356 984 ? Sl fév05 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 20449 0.0 0.0 1074101432 3464 ? Ssl fév05 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 20453 0.0 0.0 39356 888 ? Sl fév05 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 20469 0.0 0.0 1074101432 3528 ? Ssl fév05 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 20480 0.0 0.0 39356 904 ? Sl fév05 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 20483 0.0 0.0 1074101432 3140 ? Ssl fév05 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 20492 0.0 0.0 39356 1056 ? Sl fév05 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 20484 0.0 0.0 1074101432 3168 ? Ssl fév05 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 20491 0.0 0.0 39356 1040 ? Sl fév05 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 20498 0.0 0.0 1074101432 3348 ? Ssl fév05 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 20502 0.0 0.0 39356 848 ? Sl fév05 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 32112 0.0 0.0 1074101432 3360 ? Ssl fév05 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 32116 0.0 0.0 39356 768 ? Sl fév05 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 28244 0.0 0.0 1074101432 3452 ? Ssl fév05 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 28248 0.0 0.0 39356 936 ? Sl fév05 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 28266 0.0 0.0 1074101432 3352 ? Ssl fév05 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 28276 0.0 0.0 39356 976 ? Sl fév05 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 28267 0.0 0.0 1074101432 3332 ? Ssl fév05 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 28273 0.0 0.0 39356 1016 ? Sl fév05 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 28284 0.0 0.0 1074101432 3388 ? Ssl fév05 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 28289 0.0 0.0 39356 900 ? Sl fév05 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 28285 0.0 0.0 1074101432 3328 ? Ssl fév05 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 28293 0.0 0.0 39356 748 ? Sl fév05 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 31816 0.0 0.0 1074101432 3384 ? Ssl fév05 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 31827 0.0 0.0 39356 852 ? Sl fév05 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 31822 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2612 ? Ssl fév05 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 31835 0.0 0.0 39356 780 ? Sl fév05 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 31823 0.0 0.0 1074101432 2496 ? Ssl fév05 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 31832 0.0 0.0 39356 748 ? Sl fév05 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 31842 0.0 0.0 1074101432 3272 ? Ssl fév05 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 31846 0.0 0.0 39356 964 ? Sl fév05 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 9226 0.0 0.0 1074101432 3416 ? Ssl fév05 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 9230 0.0 0.0 39356 508 ? Sl fév05 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 13564 0.0 0.0 1074101432 3456 ? Ssl fév05 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 13568 0.0 0.0 39356 708 ? Sl fév05 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 4424 0.0 0.0 1074101432 3348 ? Ssl fév05 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 4433 0.0 0.0 39356 788 ? Sl fév05 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 4425 0.0 0.0 1074101432 3500 ? Ssl fév05 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 4432 0.0 0.0 39356 664 ? Sl fév05 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 12235 0.0 0.0 1074101432 7784 ? Ssl 08:37 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 12239 0.0 0.0 39356 3172 ? Sl 08:37 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 15636 0.0 0.0 1074101432 7600 ? Ssl 08:50 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 15640 0.0 0.0 39356 3248 ? Sl 08:50 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 17626 0.0 0.0 1074101432 7560 ? Ssl 09:00 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 17638 0.0 0.0 39356 3232 ? Sl 09:00 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 17628 0.0 0.0 1074101432 7660 ? Ssl 09:00 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 17633 0.0 0.0 39356 3240 ? Sl 09:00 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 20252 0.0 0.0 1074101432 7820 ? Ssl 11:10 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 20258 0.0 0.0 39356 3228 ? Sl 11:10 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 20253 0.0 0.0 1074101432 7884 ? Ssl 11:10 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 20263 0.0 0.0 39356 3320 ? Sl 11:10 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
friend 20287 0.0 0.0 1074101432 7684 ? Ssl 11:10 0:00 git-annex-shell -c git-receive-pack '/srv/media'
friend 20291 0.0 0.0 39356 3224 ? Sl 11:10 0:00 \_ git receive-pack /srv/media
Notice how many processes are orphaned there: they are not owned by
any process and will seemingly never terminate. They are fairly
harmless as I do not believe they are holding a lock (they can't: the
repo is readonly) and will probably get swapped to disk. But
eventually they will overrun even the swap if I wait long enough. 
I can kill the processes, but then it means I might kill a running
transfer which is too bad - it's hard to tell which of those processes
are valid.
I have also seen such behavior when I connect to my remote SSH server but switch networks (say between wired and wireless) on my laptop: the SSH process would hang on the older connection and the sshd-managed process would keep a lock on the repository, keeping me from making further connections to the repository. I'd then have to login to the server and kill those pesky git-annex process to resume my work.
I've seen this behavior with more recent versions in buster, so I doubt this problem is fixed in later versions. I'm also unsure it's git-annex's fault, to be fair: we might want SSH to fail earlier here which would make git-annex recover. But then on the other hand, we often like SSH to hang on through network failure and recover when the network comes back...
Have you had any luck using git-annex before? (Sometimes we get tired of reading bug reports all day and a lil' positive end note does wonders)
I have, of course. You'd be happy to know this attempt at making
this friend use git-annex is proving more successful than last time
(the now deleted ?flooding me with ssh password prompts which
led to the also deleted ?kill git-annex assistant on logout),
mainly because I got my head out of my figurative bottom and properly
configured SSH to never ever prompt for passwords. What we're seeing
now is a different problem than the original flood of passwords, of
course, but it might be related to the latter bug.
In general, the user is quite happy about git-annex now that they
understood how to fetch files through their file manager and see
progress through the GUI. I'm similarly happy to have less
hand-holding to do myself.
Thanks again for your great work! -- anarcat
There is not much git-annex involved here; git receive-pack is being run in the usual way by a git push, and git-annex-shell only forks off a git-shell to handle it in the usual way.
If you change the ssh command to git-shell then git-annex would be out of the picture, and so you could then tell if git-annex is somehow involved in the problem at all on the server.
But I think that upgrading the client is the first step, or checking to see if it has corresponding git processes that are keeping those git receive-pack's going.
It could be that the client is losing connection with the server in a way that doesn't cause the TCP connection to be closed on the server, and so it waits around for whatever TCP timeout might eventually close it.