rsync between two different servers

[astalavista2000]

Hi. I have two servers. #1 is the main server and #2 is only used in case the first one is down. Both of them are in the same LAN. Both are debian Lenny configured the same way. For instance, if #1 has a problem, I simply disconnect it, set #1's IPs to #2 and I have my system ready. The only matter here is that there are plenty of files that need to be syncronized between #1 and #2.
So I've created a newUser and added it to root group. I created a sync script in my main server (#1) that copies files using this new 'almost root' user with ssh keys and It works as expected. The problem is, for instance, if I want to rsync a .conf file, say squid.conf. Firstly I must stop squid service, then do the sync, and finally start the service again. At this point the two issues appear:
1. How can I remotely start/stop a service?
2. How can I do Nº1 withour being root (The new user I've created for this task is a member of root group)

My script is like the following:

rsync 'ssh -p remoteSSHPort' /etc/squid/squid.conf  newUser ARROBA remoteHost:/etc/squid/squid.conf

Any idea?

[reed9]

1. Ssh into your server

/etc/init.d/<service> stop
/etc/init.d/<service> start

2. Set up permissions with sudo.

[astalavista2000]

1. Is clear. I have to log in with my newUser with ssh to my remote server, then stop the service

2. How can I use sudo without needing to put my password? Remember that I want to perform this task periodically with cron (and I have properly set up ssh login with rsa keys for newUser)