diff --git a/Annex.hs b/Annex.hs
index 8e3f520570..5e08c7acf9 100644
--- a/Annex.hs
+++ b/Annex.hs
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ module Annex (
 ) where
 
 import Control.Monad.State
+import System.Posix.Types (Fd)
 
 import Common
 import qualified Git
@@ -78,6 +79,7 @@ data AnnexState = AnnexState
 	, forcetrust :: TrustMap
 	, trustmap :: Maybe TrustMap
 	, ciphers :: M.Map EncryptedCipher Cipher
+	, lockpool :: M.Map FilePath Fd
 	, flags :: M.Map String Bool
 	, fields :: M.Map String String
 	}
@@ -100,6 +102,7 @@ newState gitrepo = AnnexState
 	, forcetrust = M.empty
 	, trustmap = Nothing
 	, ciphers = M.empty
+	, lockpool = M.empty
 	, flags = M.empty
 	, fields = M.empty
 	}
diff --git a/Annex/Content.hs b/Annex/Content.hs
index ba67a2f151..c21ac405ea 100644
--- a/Annex/Content.hs
+++ b/Annex/Content.hs
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ module Annex.Content (
 	getKeysPresent,
 	saveState,
 	downloadUrl,
+	preseedTmp,
 ) where
 
 import System.IO.Error (try)
@@ -40,6 +41,7 @@ import Utility.FileMode
 import qualified Utility.Url as Url
 import Types.Key
 import Utility.DataUnits
+import Utility.CopyFile
 import Config
 import Annex.Exception
 
@@ -301,3 +303,21 @@ downloadUrl urls file = do
 	g <- gitRepo
 	o <- map Param . words <$> getConfig g "web-options" ""
 	liftIO $ anyM (\u -> Url.download u o file) urls
+
+{- Copies a key's content, when present, to a temp file.
+ - This is used to speed up some rsyncs. -}
+preseedTmp :: Key -> FilePath -> Annex Bool
+preseedTmp key file = go =<< inAnnex key
+	where
+		go False = return False
+		go True = do
+			ok <- copy
+			when ok $ liftIO $ allowWrite file
+			return ok
+		copy = do
+			present <- liftIO $ doesFileExist file
+			if present
+				then return True
+				else do
+					s <- inRepo $ gitAnnexLocation key
+					liftIO $ copyFileExternal s file
diff --git a/Annex/LockPool.hs b/Annex/LockPool.hs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3fede5739b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Annex/LockPool.hs
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+{- git-annex lock pool
+ -
+ - Copyright 2012 Joey Hess <joey@kitenet.net>
+ -
+ - Licensed under the GNU GPL version 3 or higher.
+ -}
+
+module Annex.LockPool where
+
+import qualified Data.Map as M
+import System.Posix.Types (Fd)
+
+import Common.Annex
+import Annex
+
+{- Create a specified lock file, and takes a shared lock. -}
+lockFile :: FilePath -> Annex ()
+lockFile file = go =<< fromPool file
+	where
+		go (Just _) = return () -- already locked
+		go Nothing = do
+			fd <- liftIO $ openFd file ReadOnly (Just stdFileMode) defaultFileFlags
+			liftIO $ waitToSetLock fd (ReadLock, AbsoluteSeek, 0, 0)
+			changePool $ M.insert file fd
+
+unlockFile :: FilePath -> Annex ()
+unlockFile file = go =<< fromPool file
+	where
+		go Nothing = return ()
+		go (Just fd) = do
+			liftIO $ closeFd fd
+			changePool $ M.delete file
+
+getPool :: Annex (M.Map FilePath Fd)
+getPool = getState lockpool
+
+fromPool :: FilePath -> Annex (Maybe Fd)
+fromPool file = M.lookup file <$> getPool
+
+changePool :: (M.Map FilePath Fd -> M.Map FilePath Fd) -> Annex ()
+changePool a = do
+	m <- getPool
+	changeState $ \s -> s { lockpool = a m }
diff --git a/Annex/Ssh.hs b/Annex/Ssh.hs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c05e236040
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Annex/Ssh.hs
@@ -0,0 +1,115 @@
+{- git-annex ssh interface, with connection caching
+ -
+ - Copyright 2012 Joey Hess <joey@kitenet.net>
+ -
+ - Licensed under the GNU GPL version 3 or higher.
+ -}
+
+module Annex.Ssh (
+	sshParams,
+	sshCleanup,
+) where
+
+import qualified Data.Map as M
+import System.IO.Error (try)
+
+import Common.Annex
+import Annex.LockPool
+import qualified Git
+import qualified Git.Config
+
+{- Generates parameters to ssh to a given host (or user@host) on a given
+ - port, with connection caching. -}
+sshParams :: (String, Maybe Integer) -> [CommandParam] -> Annex [CommandParam]
+sshParams (host, port) opts = go =<< sshInfo (host, port)
+	where
+		go (Nothing, params) = ret params
+		go (Just socketfile, params) = do
+			cleanstale
+			liftIO $ createDirectoryIfMissing True $ parentDir socketfile
+			lockFile $ socket2lock socketfile
+			ret params
+		ret ps = return $ ps ++ opts ++ portParams port ++ [Param host]
+		-- If the lock pool is empty, this is the first ssh of this
+		-- run. There could be stale ssh connections hanging around
+		-- from a previous git-annex run that was interrupted.
+		cleanstale = whenM (null . filter isLock . M.keys <$> getPool) $
+			sshCleanup
+
+sshInfo :: (String, Maybe Integer) -> Annex (Maybe FilePath, [CommandParam])
+sshInfo (host, port) = do
+	caching <- Git.configTrue <$> fromRepo (Git.Config.get "annex.sshcaching" "true")
+	if caching
+		then do
+			dir <- fromRepo $ gitAnnexSshDir
+			let socketfile = dir </> hostport2socket host port
+		 	return $ (Just socketfile, cacheParams socketfile)
+		else return (Nothing, [])
+
+cacheParams :: FilePath -> [CommandParam]
+cacheParams socketfile =
+	[ Param "-S", Param socketfile
+	, Params "-o ControlMaster=auto -o ControlPersist=yes"
+	]
+
+portParams :: Maybe Integer -> [CommandParam]
+portParams Nothing = []
+portParams (Just port) = [Param "-p", Param $ show port]
+
+{- Stop any unused ssh processes. -}
+sshCleanup :: Annex ()
+sshCleanup = do
+	dir <- fromRepo $ gitAnnexSshDir
+	liftIO $ createDirectoryIfMissing True dir
+	sockets <- filter (not . isLock) <$> liftIO (dirContents dir)
+	forM_ sockets cleanup
+	where
+		cleanup socketfile = do
+			-- Drop any shared lock we have, and take an
+			-- exclusive lock, without blocking. If the lock
+			-- succeeds, nothing is using this ssh, and it can
+			-- be stopped.
+			let lockfile = socket2lock socketfile
+			unlockFile lockfile
+			fd <- liftIO $ openFd lockfile ReadWrite (Just stdFileMode) defaultFileFlags
+			v <- liftIO $ try $ setLock fd (WriteLock, AbsoluteSeek, 0, 0)
+			case v of
+				Left _ -> return ()
+				Right _ -> stopssh socketfile
+			liftIO $ closeFd fd
+		stopssh socketfile = do
+			(_, params) <- sshInfo $ socket2hostport socketfile
+			_ <- liftIO $ do
+				-- "ssh -O stop" is noisy on stderr even with -q
+				let cmd = unwords $ toCommand $
+					[ Params "-O stop"
+					] ++ params
+				_ <- boolSystem "sh"
+					[ Param "-c"
+					, Param $ "ssh " ++ cmd ++ " >/dev/null 2>/dev/null"
+					]
+				--try $ removeFile socketfile
+				return ()
+			-- Cannot remove the lock file; other processes may
+			-- be waiting on our exclusive lock to use it.
+			return ()
+
+hostport2socket :: String -> Maybe Integer -> FilePath
+hostport2socket host Nothing = host
+hostport2socket host (Just port) = host ++ "!" ++ show port
+
+socket2hostport :: FilePath -> (String, Maybe Integer)
+socket2hostport socket
+	| null p = (h, Nothing)
+	| otherwise = (h, readMaybe p)
+	where
+		(h, p) = separate (== '!') $ takeFileName socket
+
+socket2lock :: FilePath -> FilePath
+socket2lock socket = socket ++ lockExt
+
+isLock :: FilePath -> Bool
+isLock f = lockExt `isSuffixOf` f
+
+lockExt :: String
+lockExt = ".lock"
diff --git a/Backend/SHA.hs b/Backend/SHA.hs
index a1124dfe2e..3adac65d8c 100644
--- a/Backend/SHA.hs
+++ b/Backend/SHA.hs
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ module Backend.SHA (backends) where
 
 import Common.Annex
 import qualified Annex
-import Annex.Content
 import Types.Backend
 import Types.Key
 import qualified Build.SysConfig as SysConfig
@@ -32,7 +31,7 @@ genBackend size
 		b = Backend
 			{ name = shaName size
 			, getKey = keyValue size
-			, fsckKey = checkKeyChecksum size
+			, fsckKey = Just $ checkKeyChecksum size
 			}
 
 genBackendE :: SHASize -> Maybe Backend
@@ -97,18 +96,14 @@ keyValueE size file = keyValue size file >>= maybe (return Nothing) addE
 			| otherwise = naiveextension
 
 {- A key's checksum is checked during fsck. -}
-checkKeyChecksum :: SHASize -> Key -> Annex Bool
-checkKeyChecksum size key = do
+checkKeyChecksum :: SHASize -> Key -> FilePath -> Annex Bool
+checkKeyChecksum size key file = do
 	fast <- Annex.getState Annex.fast
-	file <- inRepo $ gitAnnexLocation key
 	present <- liftIO $ doesFileExist file
 	if not present || fast
 		then return True
-		else check =<< shaN size file
+		else check <$> shaN size file
 	where
 		check s
-			| s == dropExtension (keyName key) = return True
-			| otherwise = do
-				dest <- moveBad key
-				warning $ "Bad file content; moved to " ++ dest
-				return False
+			| s == dropExtension (keyName key) = True
+			| otherwise = False
diff --git a/Backend/URL.hs b/Backend/URL.hs
index 7f621b00f2..6406095ca1 100644
--- a/Backend/URL.hs
+++ b/Backend/URL.hs
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ backend :: Backend
 backend = Backend {
 	name = "URL",
 	getKey = const (return Nothing),
-	fsckKey = const (return True)
+	fsckKey = Nothing
 }
 
 fromUrl :: String -> Key
diff --git a/Backend/WORM.hs b/Backend/WORM.hs
index ae9833e30c..c022fd413b 100644
--- a/Backend/WORM.hs
+++ b/Backend/WORM.hs
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ backend :: Backend
 backend = Backend {
 	name = "WORM",
 	getKey = keyValue,
-	fsckKey = const (return True)
+	fsckKey = Nothing
 }
 
 {- The key includes the file size, modification time, and the
diff --git a/CmdLine.hs b/CmdLine.hs
index 68157a01a9..29b95d01bd 100644
--- a/CmdLine.hs
+++ b/CmdLine.hs
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import qualified Annex.Queue
 import qualified Git
 import qualified Git.Command
 import Annex.Content
+import Annex.Ssh
 import Command
 
 type Params = [String]
@@ -92,4 +93,5 @@ shutdown :: Annex Bool
 shutdown = do
 	saveState
 	liftIO Git.Command.reap -- zombies from long-running git processes
+	sshCleanup -- ssh connection caching
 	return True
diff --git a/Command/Drop.hs b/Command/Drop.hs
index 578ab62b97..b40de00cb2 100644
--- a/Command/Drop.hs
+++ b/Command/Drop.hs
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ cleanupRemote key remote ok = do
 	-- better safe than sorry: assume the remote dropped the key
 	-- even if it seemed to fail; the failure could have occurred
 	-- after it really dropped it
-	Remote.logStatus remote key False
+	Remote.logStatus remote key InfoMissing
 	return ok
 
 {- Checks specified remotes to verify that enough copies of a key exist to
diff --git a/Command/Fsck.hs b/Command/Fsck.hs
index 680828748d..59af29edb1 100644
--- a/Command/Fsck.hs
+++ b/Command/Fsck.hs
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ module Command.Fsck where
 
 import Common.Annex
 import Command
+import qualified Annex
 import qualified Remote
 import qualified Types.Backend
 import qualified Types.Key
@@ -20,20 +21,31 @@ import Annex.UUID
 import Utility.DataUnits
 import Utility.FileMode
 import Config
+import qualified Option
 
 def :: [Command]
-def = [command "fsck" paramPaths seek "check for problems"]
+def = [withOptions options $ command "fsck" paramPaths seek
+	"check for problems"]
+
+fromOption :: Option
+fromOption = Option.field ['f'] "from" paramRemote "check remote"
+
+options :: [Option]
+options = [fromOption]
 
 seek :: [CommandSeek]
 seek =
-	[ withNumCopies $ \n -> whenAnnexed $ start n
+	[ withField fromOption Remote.byName $ \from ->
+		withNumCopies $ \n -> whenAnnexed $ start from n
 	, withBarePresentKeys startBare
 	]
 
-start :: Maybe Int -> FilePath -> (Key, Backend) -> CommandStart
-start numcopies file (key, backend) = do
+start :: Maybe Remote -> Maybe Int -> FilePath -> (Key, Backend) -> CommandStart
+start from numcopies file (key, backend) = do
 	showStart "fsck" file
-	next $ perform key file backend numcopies
+	case from of
+		Nothing -> next $ perform key file backend numcopies
+		Just r -> next $ performRemote key file backend numcopies r
 
 perform :: Key -> FilePath -> Backend -> Maybe Int -> CommandPerform
 perform key file backend numcopies = check
@@ -44,6 +56,44 @@ perform key file backend numcopies = check
 	, checkKeyNumCopies key file numcopies
 	]
 
+{- To fsck a remote, the content is retrieved to a tmp file,
+ - and checked locally. -}
+performRemote :: Key -> FilePath -> Backend -> Maybe Int -> Remote -> CommandPerform
+performRemote key file backend numcopies remote = do
+	v <- Remote.hasKey remote key
+	case v of
+		Left err -> do
+			showNote err
+			stop
+		Right True -> withtmp $ \tmpfile -> do
+			copied <- getfile tmpfile
+			if copied then go True (Just tmpfile) else go True Nothing
+		Right False -> go False Nothing
+	where
+		go present localcopy = check
+			[ verifyLocationLogRemote key file remote present
+			, checkKeySizeRemote key remote localcopy
+			, checkBackendRemote backend key remote localcopy
+			, checkKeyNumCopies key file numcopies
+			]
+		withtmp a = do
+			pid <- liftIO getProcessID
+			t <- fromRepo gitAnnexTmpDir
+			let tmp = t </> "fsck" ++ show pid ++ "." ++ keyFile key
+			liftIO $ createDirectoryIfMissing True t
+			let cleanup = liftIO $ catch (removeFile tmp) (const $ return ())
+			cleanup
+			cleanup `after` a tmp
+		getfile tmp = do
+			ok <- Remote.retrieveKeyFileCheap remote key tmp
+			if ok
+				then return ok
+				else do
+					fast <- Annex.getState Annex.fast
+					if fast
+						then return False
+						else Remote.retrieveKeyFile remote key tmp
+
 {- To fsck a bare repository, fsck each key in the location log. -}
 withBarePresentKeys :: (Key -> CommandStart) -> CommandSeek
 withBarePresentKeys a params = isBareRepo >>= go
@@ -93,26 +143,33 @@ verifyLocationLog key desc = do
 			preventWrite (parentDir f)
 
 	u <- getUUID
-	uuids <- Remote.keyLocations key
+	verifyLocationLog' key desc present u (logChange key u)
 
+verifyLocationLogRemote :: Key -> String -> Remote -> Bool -> Annex Bool
+verifyLocationLogRemote key desc remote present =
+	verifyLocationLog' key desc present (Remote.uuid remote)
+		(Remote.logStatus remote key)
+
+verifyLocationLog' :: Key -> String -> Bool -> UUID -> (LogStatus -> Annex ()) -> Annex Bool
+verifyLocationLog' key desc present u bad = do
+	uuids <- Remote.keyLocations key
 	case (present, u `elem` uuids) of
 		(True, False) -> do
-				fix u InfoPresent
+				fix InfoPresent
 				-- There is no data loss, so do not fail.
 				return True
 		(False, True) -> do
-				fix u InfoMissing
+				fix InfoMissing
 				warning $
 					"** Based on the location log, " ++ desc
 					++ "\n** was expected to be present, " ++
 					"but its content is missing."
 				return False
 		_ -> return True
-	
 	where
-		fix u s = do
+		fix s = do
 			showNote "fixing location log"
-			logChange key u s
+			bad s
 
 {- The size of the data for a key is checked against the size encoded in
  - the key's metadata, if available. -}
@@ -120,24 +177,49 @@ checkKeySize :: Key -> Annex Bool
 checkKeySize key = do
 	file <- inRepo $ gitAnnexLocation key
 	present <- liftIO $ doesFileExist file
-	case (present, Types.Key.keySize key) of
-		(_, Nothing) -> return True
-		(False, _) -> return True
-		(True, Just size) -> do
-			stat <- liftIO $ getFileStatus file
-			let size' = fromIntegral (fileSize stat)
-			if size == size'
-				then return True
-				else do
-					dest <- moveBad key
-					warning $ "Bad file size (" ++
-						compareSizes storageUnits True size size' ++ 
-						"); moved to " ++ dest
-					return False
+	if present
+		then checkKeySize' key file badContent
+		else return True
 
+checkKeySizeRemote :: Key -> Remote -> Maybe FilePath -> Annex Bool
+checkKeySizeRemote _ _ Nothing = return True
+checkKeySizeRemote key remote (Just file) = checkKeySize' key file
+	(badContentRemote remote)
+
+checkKeySize' :: Key -> FilePath -> (Key -> Annex String) -> Annex Bool
+checkKeySize' key file bad = case Types.Key.keySize key of
+	Nothing -> return True
+	Just size -> do
+		stat <- liftIO $ getFileStatus file
+		let size' = fromIntegral (fileSize stat)
+		if size == size'
+			then return True
+			else do
+				msg <- bad key
+				warning $ "Bad file size (" ++
+					compareSizes storageUnits True size size' ++
+					"); " ++ msg
+				return False
 
 checkBackend :: Backend -> Key -> Annex Bool
-checkBackend = Types.Backend.fsckKey
+checkBackend backend key = do
+	file <- inRepo (gitAnnexLocation key)
+	checkBackend' backend key (Just file) badContent
+
+checkBackendRemote :: Backend -> Key -> Remote -> Maybe FilePath -> Annex Bool
+checkBackendRemote backend key remote localcopy =
+	checkBackend' backend key localcopy (badContentRemote remote)
+
+checkBackend' :: Backend -> Key -> Maybe FilePath -> (Key -> Annex String) -> Annex Bool
+checkBackend' _ _ Nothing _ = return True
+checkBackend' backend key (Just file) bad = case Types.Backend.fsckKey backend of
+	Nothing -> return True
+	Just a -> do
+		ok <- a key file
+		unless ok $ do
+			msg <- bad key
+			warning $ "Bad file content; " ++ msg
+		return ok
 
 checkKeyNumCopies :: Key -> FilePath -> Maybe Int -> Annex Bool
 checkKeyNumCopies key file numcopies = do
@@ -166,3 +248,19 @@ missingNote file present needed untrusted =
 		missingNote file present needed [] ++
 		"\nThe following untrusted locations may also have copies: " ++
 		"\n" ++ untrusted
+
+{- Bad content is moved aside. -}
+badContent :: Key -> Annex String
+badContent key = do
+	dest <- moveBad key
+	return $ "moved to " ++ dest
+
+badContentRemote :: Remote -> Key -> Annex String
+badContentRemote remote key = do
+	ok <- Remote.removeKey remote key
+	-- better safe than sorry: assume the remote dropped the key
+	-- even if it seemed to fail; the failure could have occurred
+	-- after it really dropped it
+	Remote.logStatus remote key InfoMissing
+	return $ (if ok then "dropped from " else "failed to drop from ")
+		++ Remote.name remote
diff --git a/Command/Move.hs b/Command/Move.hs
index 2efaebbcb1..2f2cd1b5d6 100644
--- a/Command/Move.hs
+++ b/Command/Move.hs
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import Annex.Content
 import qualified Remote
 import Annex.UUID
 import qualified Option
+import Logs.Presence
 
 def :: [Command]
 def = [withOptions options $ command "move" paramPaths seek
@@ -97,7 +98,7 @@ toPerform dest move key = moveLock move key $ do
 		Right True -> finish
 	where
 		finish = do
-			Remote.logStatus dest key True
+			Remote.logStatus dest key InfoPresent
 			if move
 				then do
 					whenM (inAnnex key) $ removeAnnex key
diff --git a/Locations.hs b/Locations.hs
index 73a2473b56..03d6deb1d7 100644
--- a/Locations.hs
+++ b/Locations.hs
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ module Locations (
 	gitAnnexJournalLock,
 	gitAnnexIndex,
 	gitAnnexIndexLock,
+	gitAnnexSshDir,
 	isLinkToAnnex,
 	annexHashes,
 	hashDirMixed,
@@ -142,6 +143,10 @@ gitAnnexIndex r = gitAnnexDir r </> "index"
 gitAnnexIndexLock :: Git.Repo -> FilePath
 gitAnnexIndexLock r = gitAnnexDir r </> "index.lck"
 
+{- .git/annex/ssh/ is used for ssh connection caching -}
+gitAnnexSshDir :: Git.Repo -> FilePath
+gitAnnexSshDir r = addTrailingPathSeparator $ gitAnnexDir r </> "ssh"
+
 {- Checks a symlink target to see if it appears to point to annexed content. -}
 isLinkToAnnex :: FilePath -> Bool
 isLinkToAnnex s = ("/.git/" ++ objectDir) `isInfixOf` s
diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
new file mode 120000
index 0000000000..798088bec2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+debian/NEWS
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Remote.hs b/Remote.hs
index 7feb84d615..ffb53446b4 100644
--- a/Remote.hs
+++ b/Remote.hs
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ module Remote (
 	name,
 	storeKey,
 	retrieveKeyFile,
+	retrieveKeyFileCheap,
 	removeKey,
 	hasKey,
 	hasKeyCheap,
@@ -212,7 +213,5 @@ forceTrust level remotename = do
  - in the local repo, not on the remote. The process of transferring the
  - key to the remote, or removing the key from it *may* log the change
  - on the remote, but this cannot always be relied on. -}
-logStatus :: Remote -> Key -> Bool -> Annex ()
-logStatus remote key present = logChange key (uuid remote) status
-	where
-		status = if present then InfoPresent else InfoMissing
+logStatus :: Remote -> Key -> LogStatus -> Annex ()
+logStatus remote key present = logChange key (uuid remote) present
diff --git a/Remote/Bup.hs b/Remote/Bup.hs
index 37f3e02e09..7329167dae 100644
--- a/Remote/Bup.hs
+++ b/Remote/Bup.hs
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ gen r u c = do
 			name = Git.repoDescribe r,
  			storeKey = store r buprepo,
 			retrieveKeyFile = retrieve buprepo,
+			retrieveKeyFileCheap = retrieveCheap buprepo,
 			removeKey = remove,
 			hasKey = checkPresent r bupr',
 			hasKeyCheap = bupLocal buprepo,
@@ -125,6 +126,9 @@ retrieve buprepo k f = do
 		tofile <- openFile f WriteMode
 		pipeBup params Nothing (Just tofile)
 
+retrieveCheap :: BupRepo -> Key -> FilePath -> Annex Bool
+retrieveCheap _ _ _ = return False
+
 retrieveEncrypted :: BupRepo -> (Cipher, Key) -> FilePath -> Annex Bool
 retrieveEncrypted buprepo (cipher, enck) f = do
 	let params = bupParams "join" buprepo [Param $ show enck]
diff --git a/Remote/Directory.hs b/Remote/Directory.hs
index 23265dabc9..52f4263409 100644
--- a/Remote/Directory.hs
+++ b/Remote/Directory.hs
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ gen r u c = do
 			name = Git.repoDescribe r,
  			storeKey = store dir,
 			retrieveKeyFile = retrieve dir,
+			retrieveKeyFileCheap = retrieveCheap dir,
 			removeKey = remove dir,
 			hasKey = checkPresent dir,
 			hasKeyCheap = True,
@@ -112,6 +113,10 @@ storeHelper d key a = do
 retrieve :: FilePath -> Key -> FilePath -> Annex Bool
 retrieve d k f = liftIO $ withStoredFile d k $ \file -> copyFileExternal file f
 
+retrieveCheap :: FilePath -> Key -> FilePath -> Annex Bool
+retrieveCheap d k f = liftIO $ withStoredFile d k $ \file ->
+	catchBoolIO $ createSymbolicLink file f >> return True
+
 retrieveEncrypted :: FilePath -> (Cipher, Key) -> FilePath -> Annex Bool
 retrieveEncrypted d (cipher, enck) f =
 	liftIO $ withStoredFile d enck $ \file -> catchBoolIO $ do
diff --git a/Remote/Git.hs b/Remote/Git.hs
index 7964074496..efe1829610 100644
--- a/Remote/Git.hs
+++ b/Remote/Git.hs
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ gen r u _ = do
 		name = Git.repoDescribe r',
 		storeKey = copyToRemote r',
 		retrieveKeyFile = copyFromRemote r',
+		retrieveKeyFileCheap = copyFromRemoteCheap r',
 		removeKey = dropKey r',
 		hasKey = inAnnex r',
 		hasKeyCheap = cheap,
@@ -208,6 +209,18 @@ copyFromRemote r key file
 	| Git.repoIsHttp r = Annex.Content.downloadUrl (keyUrls r key) file
 	| otherwise = error "copying from non-ssh, non-http repo not supported"
 
+copyFromRemoteCheap :: Git.Repo -> Key -> FilePath -> Annex Bool
+copyFromRemoteCheap r key file
+	| not $ Git.repoIsUrl r = do
+		loc <- liftIO $ gitAnnexLocation key r
+		liftIO $ catchBoolIO $ createSymbolicLink loc file >> return True
+	| Git.repoIsSsh r = do
+		ok <- Annex.Content.preseedTmp key file
+		if ok
+			then copyFromRemote r key file
+			else return False
+	| otherwise = return False
+
 {- Tries to copy a key's content to a remote's annex. -}
 copyToRemote :: Git.Repo -> Key -> Annex Bool
 copyToRemote r key
diff --git a/Remote/Helper/Encryptable.hs b/Remote/Helper/Encryptable.hs
index 3abea7bc6a..0569cb5551 100644
--- a/Remote/Helper/Encryptable.hs
+++ b/Remote/Helper/Encryptable.hs
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ encryptableRemote c storeKeyEncrypted retrieveKeyFileEncrypted r =
 	r {
 		storeKey = store,
 		retrieveKeyFile = retrieve,
+		retrieveKeyFileCheap = retrieveCheap,
 		removeKey = withkey $ removeKey r,
 		hasKey = withkey $ hasKey r,
 		cost = cost r + encryptedRemoteCostAdj
@@ -58,6 +59,9 @@ encryptableRemote c storeKeyEncrypted retrieveKeyFileEncrypted r =
 		retrieve k f = cip k >>= maybe
 			(retrieveKeyFile r k f)
 			(`retrieveKeyFileEncrypted` f)
+		retrieveCheap k f = cip k >>= maybe
+			(retrieveKeyFileCheap r k f)
+			(\_ -> return False)
 		withkey a k = cip k >>= maybe (a k) (a . snd)
 		cip = cipherKey c
 
diff --git a/Remote/Helper/Ssh.hs b/Remote/Helper/Ssh.hs
index 7c5eeddb8e..c61d1b96f2 100644
--- a/Remote/Helper/Ssh.hs
+++ b/Remote/Helper/Ssh.hs
@@ -7,25 +7,21 @@
 
 module Remote.Helper.Ssh where
 
-import Common
+import Common.Annex
 import qualified Git
 import qualified Git.Url
-import Types
 import Config
 import Annex.UUID
+import Annex.Ssh
 
 {- Generates parameters to ssh to a repository's host and run a command.
  - Caller is responsible for doing any neccessary shellEscaping of the
  - passed command. -}
 sshToRepo :: Git.Repo -> [CommandParam] -> Annex [CommandParam]
 sshToRepo repo sshcmd = do
-	s <- getConfig repo "ssh-options" ""
-	let sshoptions = map Param (words s)
-	let sshport = case Git.Url.port repo of
-		Nothing -> []
-		Just p -> [Param "-p", Param (show p)]
-	let sshhost = Param $ Git.Url.hostuser repo
-	return $ sshoptions ++ sshport ++ [sshhost] ++ sshcmd
+	opts <- map Param . words <$> getConfig repo "ssh-options" ""
+	params <- sshParams (Git.Url.hostuser repo, Git.Url.port repo) opts
+	return $ params ++ sshcmd
 
 {- Generates parameters to run a git-annex-shell command on a remote
  - repository. -}
diff --git a/Remote/Hook.hs b/Remote/Hook.hs
index 6c4a044ac9..a08c4011ef 100644
--- a/Remote/Hook.hs
+++ b/Remote/Hook.hs
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ gen r u c = do
 			name = Git.repoDescribe r,
  			storeKey = store hooktype,
 			retrieveKeyFile = retrieve hooktype,
+			retrieveKeyFileCheap = retrieveCheap hooktype,
 			removeKey = remove hooktype,
 			hasKey = checkPresent r hooktype,
 			hasKeyCheap = False,
@@ -109,6 +110,9 @@ storeEncrypted h (cipher, enck) k = withTmp enck $ \tmp -> do
 retrieve :: String -> Key -> FilePath -> Annex Bool
 retrieve h k f = runHook h "retrieve" k (Just f) $ return True
 
+retrieveCheap :: String -> Key -> FilePath -> Annex Bool
+retrieveCheap _ _ _ = return False
+
 retrieveEncrypted :: String -> (Cipher, Key) -> FilePath -> Annex Bool
 retrieveEncrypted h (cipher, enck) f = withTmp enck $ \tmp ->
 	runHook h "retrieve" enck (Just tmp) $ liftIO $ catchBoolIO $ do
diff --git a/Remote/Rsync.hs b/Remote/Rsync.hs
index c7b60467c4..8de6ba6a74 100644
--- a/Remote/Rsync.hs
+++ b/Remote/Rsync.hs
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ gen r u c = do
 			name = Git.repoDescribe r,
  			storeKey = store o,
 			retrieveKeyFile = retrieve o,
+			retrieveKeyFileCheap = retrieveCheap o,
 			removeKey = remove o,
 			hasKey = checkPresent r o,
 			hasKeyCheap = False,
@@ -103,13 +104,19 @@ storeEncrypted o (cipher, enck) k = withTmp enck $ \tmp -> do
 	rsyncSend o enck tmp
 
 retrieve :: RsyncOpts -> Key -> FilePath -> Annex Bool
-retrieve o k f = untilTrue (rsyncUrls o k) $ \u ->
-	rsyncRemote o
-		-- use inplace when retrieving to support resuming
-		[ Param "--inplace"
-		, Param u
-		, Param f
-		]
+retrieve o k f = untilTrue (rsyncUrls o k) $ \u -> rsyncRemote o
+	-- use inplace when retrieving to support resuming
+	[ Param "--inplace"
+	, Param u
+	, Param f
+	]
+
+retrieveCheap :: RsyncOpts -> Key -> FilePath -> Annex Bool
+retrieveCheap o k f = do
+	ok <- preseedTmp k f
+	if ok
+		then retrieve o k f
+		else return False
 
 retrieveEncrypted :: RsyncOpts -> (Cipher, Key) -> FilePath -> Annex Bool
 retrieveEncrypted o (cipher, enck) f = withTmp enck $ \tmp -> do
diff --git a/Remote/Web.hs b/Remote/Web.hs
index 4d6348e596..49c3f43f3a 100644
--- a/Remote/Web.hs
+++ b/Remote/Web.hs
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ gen r _ _ =
 		name = Git.repoDescribe r,
 		storeKey = uploadKey,
 		retrieveKeyFile = downloadKey,
+		retrieveKeyFileCheap = downloadKeyCheap,
 		removeKey = dropKey,
 		hasKey = checkKey,
 		hasKeyCheap = False,
@@ -58,6 +59,9 @@ downloadKey key file = get =<< getUrls key
 			showOutput -- make way for download progress bar
 			downloadUrl urls file
 
+downloadKeyCheap :: Key -> FilePath -> Annex Bool
+downloadKeyCheap _ _ = return False
+
 uploadKey :: Key -> Annex Bool
 uploadKey _ = do
 	warning "upload to web not supported"
diff --git a/Types/Backend.hs b/Types/Backend.hs
index 025293a906..d52cec5471 100644
--- a/Types/Backend.hs
+++ b/Types/Backend.hs
@@ -16,8 +16,8 @@ data BackendA a = Backend {
 	name :: String,
 	-- converts a filename to a key
 	getKey :: FilePath -> a (Maybe Key),
-	-- called during fsck to check a key
-	fsckKey :: Key -> a Bool
+	-- called during fsck to check a key, if the backend has its own checks
+	fsckKey :: Maybe (Key -> FilePath -> a Bool)
 }
 
 instance Show (BackendA a) where
diff --git a/Types/Remote.hs b/Types/Remote.hs
index 216b34857d..003dd5342a 100644
--- a/Types/Remote.hs
+++ b/Types/Remote.hs
@@ -45,6 +45,8 @@ data RemoteA a = Remote {
 	storeKey :: Key -> a Bool,
 	-- retrieves a key's contents to a file
 	retrieveKeyFile :: Key -> FilePath -> a Bool,
+	-- retrieves a key's contents to a tmp file, if it can be done cheaply
+	retrieveKeyFileCheap :: Key -> FilePath -> a Bool,
 	-- removes a key's contents
 	removeKey :: Key -> a Bool,
 	-- Checks if a key is present in the remote; if the remote
diff --git a/Utility/Format.hs b/Utility/Format.hs
index 2c2042cc22..d8b7e45493 100644
--- a/Utility/Format.hs
+++ b/Utility/Format.hs
@@ -37,9 +37,11 @@ data Frag = Const String | Var String Justify
 data Justify = LeftJustified Int | RightJustified Int | UnJustified
 	deriving (Show)
 
+type Variables = M.Map String String
+
 {- Expands a Format using some variables, generating a formatted string.
  - This can be repeatedly called, efficiently. -}
-format :: Format -> M.Map String String -> String
+format :: Format -> Variables -> String
 format f vars = concatMap expand f
 	where
 		expand (Const s) = s
diff --git a/Utility/Misc.hs b/Utility/Misc.hs
index 1d3c0e6763..c9bfcb953a 100644
--- a/Utility/Misc.hs
+++ b/Utility/Misc.hs
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ readFileStrict = readFile >=> \s -> length s `seq` return s
  - in the second result list.
  -
  - separate (== ':') "foo:bar" = ("foo", "bar")
- - separate (== ':') "foobar" = ("foo, "")
+ - separate (== ':') "foobar" = ("foobar", "")
  -}
 separate :: (a -> Bool) -> [a] -> ([a], [a])
 separate c l = unbreak $ break c l
diff --git a/Utility/Monad.hs b/Utility/Monad.hs
index 95964361e6..28aa33ee82 100644
--- a/Utility/Monad.hs
+++ b/Utility/Monad.hs
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import Control.Monad (liftM)
 
 {- Return the first value from a list, if any, satisfying the given
  - predicate -}
-firstM :: (Monad m) => (a -> m Bool) -> [a] -> m (Maybe a)
+firstM :: Monad m => (a -> m Bool) -> [a] -> m (Maybe a)
 firstM _ [] = return Nothing
 firstM p (x:xs) = do
 	q <- p x
@@ -22,20 +22,20 @@ firstM p (x:xs) = do
 
 {- Returns true if any value in the list satisfies the predicate,
  - stopping once one is found. -}
-anyM :: (Monad m) => (a -> m Bool) -> [a] -> m Bool
+anyM :: Monad m => (a -> m Bool) -> [a] -> m Bool
 anyM p = liftM isJust . firstM p
 
 {- Runs an action on values from a list until it succeeds. -}
-untilTrue :: (Monad m) => [a] -> (a -> m Bool) -> m Bool
+untilTrue :: Monad m => [a] -> (a -> m Bool) -> m Bool
 untilTrue = flip anyM
 
 {- Runs an action, passing its value to an observer before returning it. -}
-observe :: (Monad m) => (a -> m b) -> m a -> m a
+observe :: Monad m => (a -> m b) -> m a -> m a
 observe observer a = do
 	r <- a
 	_ <- observer r
 	return r
 
 {- b `after` a runs first a, then b, and returns the value of a -}
-after :: (Monad m) => m b -> m a -> m a
+after :: Monad m => m b -> m a -> m a
 after = observe . const
diff --git a/Utility/PartialPrelude.hs b/Utility/PartialPrelude.hs
index ad857196d6..507fc6252b 100644
--- a/Utility/PartialPrelude.hs
+++ b/Utility/PartialPrelude.hs
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ last = Prelude.last
  - Ignores leading/trailing whitespace, and throws away any trailing
  - text after the part that can be read.
  -}
-readMaybe :: (Read a) => String -> Maybe a
+readMaybe :: Read a => String -> Maybe a
 readMaybe s = case reads s of
 	((x,_):_) -> Just x
 	_ -> Nothing
diff --git a/Utility/TempFile.hs b/Utility/TempFile.hs
index 3887b422b6..469d52e8ce 100644
--- a/Utility/TempFile.hs
+++ b/Utility/TempFile.hs
@@ -26,8 +26,10 @@ viaTmp a file content = do
 	a tmpfile content
 	renameFile tmpfile file
 
+type Template = String
+
 {- Runs an action with a temp file, then removes the file. -}
-withTempFile :: String -> (FilePath -> Handle -> IO a) -> IO a
+withTempFile :: Template -> (FilePath -> Handle -> IO a) -> IO a
 withTempFile template a = bracket create remove use
 	where
 		create = do
diff --git a/debian/NEWS b/debian/NEWS
index f807d05255..1c95146912 100644
--- a/debian/NEWS
+++ b/debian/NEWS
@@ -1,8 +1,13 @@
-git-annex (3.20110702) unstable; urgency=low
+git-annex (3.20120123) unstable; urgency=low
 
-  The URL backend has been removed. Instead the new web remote can be used.
+  There was a bug in the handling of directory special remotes that
+  could cause partial file contents to be stored in them. If you use
+  a directory special remote, you should fsck it, to avoid potential
+  data loss.
 
- -- Joey Hess <joeyh@debian.org>  Fri, 01 Jul 2011 15:40:51 -0400
+  Example: git annex fsck --from mydirectory
+
+ -- Joey Hess <joeyh@debian.org>  Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:24:23 -0400
 
 git-annex (3.20110624) experimental; urgency=low
 
diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index fe62f5282b..eb1d30b84d 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -1,3 +1,25 @@
+git-annex (3.20120123) unstable; urgency=low
+
+  * fsck --from: Fscking a remote is now supported. It's done by retrieving
+    the contents of the specified files from the remote, and checking them,
+    so can be an expensive operation. Still, if the remote is a special
+    remote, or a git repository that you cannot run fsck in locally, it's
+    nice to have the ability to fsck it.
+  * If you have any directory special remotes, now would be a good time to
+    fsck them, in case you were hit by the data loss bug fixed in the
+    previous release!
+  * fsck --from remote --fast: Avoids expensive file transfers, at the
+    expense of not checking file size and/or contents.
+  * Ssh connection caching is now enabled automatically by git-annex.
+    Only one ssh connection is made to each host per git-annex run, which
+    can speed some things up a lot, as well as avoiding repeated password
+    prompts. Concurrent git-annex processes also share ssh connections.
+    Cached ssh connections are shut down when git-annex exits.
+  * To disable the ssh caching (if for example you have your own broader
+    ssh caching configuration), set annex.sshcaching=false.
+
+ -- Joey Hess <joeyh@debian.org>  Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:48:48 -0400
+
 git-annex (3.20120116~bpo60+1) squeeze-backports; urgency=low
 
   * Removed conflict on newer version of git, this backport can now be used
diff --git a/doc/forum/Preserving_file_access_rights_in_directory_tree_below_objects__47__.mdwn b/doc/forum/Preserving_file_access_rights_in_directory_tree_below_objects__47__.mdwn
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d89bcee290
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/forum/Preserving_file_access_rights_in_directory_tree_below_objects__47__.mdwn
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+Hello,
+
+I have the problem that, while git-annex preserves the file access rights (user, group, others) for the actual file, it does not make sure that others can access this file through the directory tree above said file:
+
+    /tmp $ mkdir test
+    /tmp $ chown claudius:media test
+    /tmp $ chmod 750 test
+    /tmp $ ls -dl test
+    drwxr-x--- 2 claudius media 40 2012-01-23 19:27 test/
+    /tmp $ cd test
+    /tmp/test $ git init --shared=all
+    Initialized empty shared Git repository in /tmp/test/.git/
+    /tmp/test $ git annex init "test"
+    init test ok
+    /tmp/test $ echo 123 > abc
+    /tmp/test $ chmod 640 abc
+    /tmp/test $ chown claudius:media abc
+    /tmp/test $ ls -l
+    total 4
+    -rw-r----- 1 claudius media 4 2012-01-23 19:27 abc
+    /tmp/test $ git annex add .
+    add abc (checksum...) ok
+    (Recording state in git...)
+    /tmp/test $ ls -l
+    total 4
+    lrwxrwxrwx 1 claudius claudius 176 2012-01-23 19:27 abc -> .git/annex/objects/8F/pj/SHA256-s4--181210f8f9c779c26da1d9b2075bde0127302ee0e3fca38c9a83f5b1dd8e5d3b/SHA256-s4--181210f8f9c779c26da1d9b2075bde0127302ee0e3fca38c9a83f5b1dd8e5d3b
+    /tmp/test $ ls -l .git/annex/objects/8F/pj/SHA256-s4--181210f8f9c779c26da1d9b2075bde0127302ee0e3fca38c9a83f5b1dd8e5d3b/SHA256-s4--181210f8f9c779c26da1d9b2075bde0127302ee0e3fca38c9a83f5b1dd8e5d3b
+    -r--r----- 1 claudius media 4 2012-01-23 19:27 .git/annex/objects/8F/pj/SHA256-s4--181210f8f9c779c26da1d9b2075bde0127302ee0e3fca38c9a83f5b1dd8e5d3b/SHA256-s4--181210f8f9c779c26da1d9b2075bde0127302ee0e3fca38c9a83f5b1dd8e5d3b
+    /tmp/test $ ls -lR .git/annex/objects/
+    .git/annex/objects/:
+    total 0
+    drwx--S--- 3 claudius claudius 60 2012-01-23 19:28 8F/
+    
+    .git/annex/objects/8F:
+    total 0
+    drwx--S--- 3 claudius claudius 60 2012-01-23 19:28 pj/
+    
+    .git/annex/objects/8F/pj:
+    total 0
+    dr-x--S--- 2 claudius claudius 60 2012-01-23 19:28 SHA256-s4--181210f8f9c779c26da1d9b2075bde0127302ee0e3fca38c9a83f5b1dd8e5d3b/
+    
+    .git/annex/objects/8F/pj/SHA256-s4--181210f8f9c779c26da1d9b2075bde0127302ee0e3fca38c9a83f5b1dd8e5d3b:
+    total 4
+    -r--r----- 1 claudius media 4 2012-01-23 19:27 SHA256-s4--181210f8f9c779c26da1d9b2075bde0127302ee0e3fca38c9a83f5b1dd8e5d3b
+    /tmp/test $ stat .git/annex/objects/
+      File: `.git/annex/objects/'
+      Size: 60        	Blocks: 0          IO Block: 4096   directory
+    Device: 11h/17d	Inode: 2365970     Links: 3
+    Access: (2700/drwx--S---)  Uid: ( 1000/claudius)   Gid: ( 1000/claudius)
+    Access: 2012-01-23 19:28:10.614948386 +0100
+    Modify: 2012-01-23 19:28:10.614948386 +0100
+    Change: 2012-01-23 19:28:10.614948386 +0100
+     Birth: -
+
+The use case is that I have a rather large collection of music I would like to manage with git-annex in various locations (all of it on my external hard drive, some on my notebook etc. This music is played by MPD, which can access the collection because it is in the "media" group. After changing to git-annex, however, this fails.
+
+I tried to avoid this specific problem by declaring the git repository to be shared, which does appear to have some effect on the other files in .git:
+
+    /tmp/test $ ls -l .git
+    total 16
+    drwx--S---  5 claudius claudius 160 2012-01-23 19:28 annex/
+    drwxrwsr-x  2 claudius claudius  40 2012-01-23 19:27 branches/
+    -rw-rw-r--  1 claudius claudius 218 2012-01-23 19:27 config
+    -rw-rw-r--  1 claudius claudius  73 2012-01-23 19:27 description
+    -rw-rw-r--  1 claudius claudius  23 2012-01-23 19:27 HEAD
+    drwxrwsr-x  2 claudius claudius 220 2012-01-23 19:27 hooks/
+    -rw-rw-r--  1 claudius claudius 104 2012-01-23 19:28 index
+    drwxrwsr-x  2 claudius claudius  60 2012-01-23 19:27 info/
+    drwxrwsr-x  3 claudius claudius  60 2012-01-23 19:27 logs/
+    drwxrwsr-x 15 claudius claudius 300 2012-01-23 19:28 objects/
+    drwxrwsr-x  4 claudius claudius  80 2012-01-23 19:27 refs/
+
+I could obviously try to change the rights of annex/, annex/objects etc., but I would like to avoid having to adapt them each time a new folder is added somewhere below annex/objects/.
+
+My knowledge of git and especially git-annex is not too good, so it might well be that I missed something obvious. Any hints? :)
+
+(And thank you, of course, for taking the time to read all this)
diff --git a/doc/forum/Preserving_file_access_rights_in_directory_tree_below_objects__47__/comment_1_5dd978f9b5a0771f44ab9e086bf5a07f._comment b/doc/forum/Preserving_file_access_rights_in_directory_tree_below_objects__47__/comment_1_5dd978f9b5a0771f44ab9e086bf5a07f._comment
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d2da5e94df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/forum/Preserving_file_access_rights_in_directory_tree_below_objects__47__/comment_1_5dd978f9b5a0771f44ab9e086bf5a07f._comment
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+[[!comment format=mdwn
+ username="http://joey.kitenet.net/"
+ nickname="joey"
+ subject="comment 1"
+ date="2012-01-23T19:00:40Z"
+ content="""
+You say you started the repo with \"git init --shared\" .. but what that's really meant for is bare repositories, which can have several users pushing into it, not a non-bare repository.
+
+The strange mode on the directories \"dr-x--S---\" and files \"-r--r-----\" must be due to your umask setting though. My umask is 022 and the directories and files under `.git/annex/objects` are \"drwxr-xr-x\" and \"-r--r--r--\", which allows anyone to read them unless an upper directory blocks it -- and with this umask, none do unless I explicitly remove permissions from one to lock down a repository.
+
+About mpd, the obvious fix is to run mpd not as a system user but as yourself. I put \"@reboot mpd\" in my crontab to do this.
+
+
+"""]]
diff --git a/doc/git-annex.mdwn b/doc/git-annex.mdwn
index 59b756de83..148b6336de 100644
--- a/doc/git-annex.mdwn
+++ b/doc/git-annex.mdwn
@@ -210,7 +210,10 @@ subdirectories).
 
   With parameters, only the specified files are checked.
 
-  To avoid expensive checksum calculations, specify --fast
+  To check a remote to fsck, specify --from.
+  
+  To avoid expensive checksum calculations (and expensive transfers when
+  fscking a remote), specify --fast
 
 * unused
 
@@ -572,6 +575,10 @@ Here are all the supported configuration settings.
 
   Automatically maintained, and used to automate upgrades between versions.
 
+* `annex.sshcaching`
+
+  By default, git-annex caches ssh connections. To disable this, set to `false`.
+
 * `remote.<name>.annex-cost`
 
   When determining which repository to
diff --git a/doc/tips/using_git_annex_with_no_fixed_hostname_and_optimising_ssh.mdwn b/doc/tips/using_git_annex_with_no_fixed_hostname_and_optimising_ssh.mdwn
index 8fb2bf9db1..594d8c480f 100644
--- a/doc/tips/using_git_annex_with_no_fixed_hostname_and_optimising_ssh.mdwn
+++ b/doc/tips/using_git_annex_with_no_fixed_hostname_and_optimising_ssh.mdwn
@@ -57,16 +57,3 @@ b) From the desktop add the remote
 So now you can work on the train, pop on the wifi at work upon arrival, and sync up with a `git pull && git annex get`.
 
 An alternative solution may be to use direct tunnels over Openvpn.
-
-## Optimising SSH
-
-Running a `git annex get .`, at least in the version I have, creates a new SSH connection for every file transfer (maybe this should be a feature request?)
-
-Lot's of new small files in an _annex_ cause lot's of connections to be made quickly: this is an relatively expensive overhead and is enough for connection limiting to start in my case.  The process can be made much faster by using SSH's connection sharing capabilities.  An SSH config like this should do it:
-
-    # Global Settings
-    ControlMaster auto
-    ControlPersist 30
-    ControlPath ~/.ssh/master-%r@%h:%p
-
-This will create a master connection for sharing if one isn't present, maintain it for 30 seconds after closing down the connection (just-in-cases') and automatically use the master connection for subsequent connections.  Wins all round!
diff --git a/doc/tips/visualizing_repositories_with_gource.mdwn b/doc/tips/visualizing_repositories_with_gource.mdwn
index 884f70c444..25a69c1b7a 100644
--- a/doc/tips/visualizing_repositories_with_gource.mdwn
+++ b/doc/tips/visualizing_repositories_with_gource.mdwn
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@ or removed from them with git-annex.
 To use gource this way, first go into the directory you want to visualize,
 and use `git annex log` to make an input file for `gource`:
 
-	git annex log --gource | tee gorce.log
+	git annex log --gource | tee gource.log
 	sort gource.log | gource --log-format custom -
 
 The `git annex log` can take a while, to speed it up you can use something
-like `--after "4 monts ago"` to limit how far back it goes.
+like `--after "4 months ago"` to limit how far back it goes.
diff --git a/doc/todo/fsck_special_remotes.mdwn b/doc/todo/fsck_special_remotes.mdwn
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c81c56c856
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/todo/fsck_special_remotes.mdwn
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+`git annex fsck --from remote`
+
+Basically, this needs to receive each file in turn from the remote, to a
+temp file, and then run the existing fsck code on it. Could be quite
+expensive, but sometimes you really want to check.
+
+An unencrypted directory special remote could be optimised, by not actually
+copying the file, just dropping a symlink, etc.
+
+The WORM backend doesn't care about file content, so it would be nice to
+avoid transferring the content at all, and only send the size.
diff --git a/doc/todo/wishlist:_Prevent_repeated_password_prompts_for_one_command.mdwn b/doc/todo/wishlist:_Prevent_repeated_password_prompts_for_one_command.mdwn
index 6d1552fe4e..341a9afa45 100644
--- a/doc/todo/wishlist:_Prevent_repeated_password_prompts_for_one_command.mdwn
+++ b/doc/todo/wishlist:_Prevent_repeated_password_prompts_for_one_command.mdwn
@@ -6,3 +6,40 @@ Simple, when performing various git annex command over ssh, in particular a mult
 > 
 > Combining multiple operations into a single ssh is on the todo list, but
 > very far down it. --[[Joey]]
+
+>> OTOH, automatically running ssh in ControlMaster mode (and stopping it
+>> at exit) would be useful and not hard thing for git-annex to do.
+>> 
+>> It'd just need to set the appropriate config options, setting
+>> ControlPath to a per-remote socket location that includes git-annex's
+>> pid. Then at shutdown, run `ssh -O exit` on each such socket.
+>> 
+>> Complicated slightly by not doing this if the user has already set up
+>> more broad ssh connection caching.
+>> 
+>> [[done]]! --[[Joey]]
+
+---
+
+Slightly more elaborate design for using ssh connection caching:
+
+* Per-uuid ssh socket in `.git/annex/ssh/user@host.socket`
+* Can be shared amoung concurrent git-annex processes as well as ssh
+  invocations inside the current git-annex.
+* Also a lock file, `.git/annex/ssh/user@host.lock`.
+  Open and take shared lock before running ssh; store lock in lock pool.
+  (Not locking socket directly, because ssh might want to.)
+* Run ssh like: `ssh -S .git/annex/ssh/user@host.socket -o ControlMaster=auto -o ControlPersist=yes user@host`
+* At shutdown, enumerate all existing sockets, and on each:
+  1. Drop any shared lock.
+  2. Attempt to take an exclusive lock (non-blocking).
+  3. `ssh -q -S .git/annex/ssh/user@host.socket -o ControlMaster=auto -o ControlPersist=yes -O stop user@host`
+     (Will exit nonzero if ssh is not running on that socket.)
+  4. And then remove the socket and the lock file.
+* Do same *at startup*. Why? In case an old git-annex was interrupted
+  and left behind a ssh. May have moved to a different network
+  in the meantime, etc, and be stalled waiting for a response from the
+  network, or talking to the wrong interface or something.
+  (Ie, the reason why I don't use ssh connection caching by default.)
+* User should be able to override this, to use their own preferred
+  connection caching setup. `annex.sshcaching=false`
diff --git a/git-annex.cabal b/git-annex.cabal
index 11843589d0..cabc5b1c24 100644
--- a/git-annex.cabal
+++ b/git-annex.cabal
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 Name: git-annex
-Version: 3.20120116~bpo60+1
+Version: 3.20120123~bpo60+1
 Cabal-Version: >= 1.6
 License: GPL
 Maintainer: Joey Hess <joey@kitenet.net>