[throwaway09223]

No, it is not true. You're misunderstanding how this works.

The document you link is using ssh as a transport protocol as opposed to the rsync protocol. The rsync binary must be installed on both systems for this to work.

When you run something like:

rsync file user@rhost:/dest/path

The local rsync binary invokes ssh, and then executes the rsync binary on the remote system and from there the two instances of rsync effectuate the transfer.

If you do not have rsync available in your path on the remote system you will not be able to copy files over ssh. This is documented in the manpage.

Try it.

[_hyn3]

Exactly. You absolutely must have the rsync binary installed locally. The rsync "server" should only actually be run if you know you need it (that is, only if you are providing rsync services to other people).