I have some files I like to keep current between my 2 computers. The problem is that those 2 computers are about 30km apart from each other. Simply copying the files to a USB Stick manually was out of the question since the files in question are configuration/plugins/… from an application and a) I have no idea which ones change when and b) there are about 9000 files. So I went on a search in the Internet and found Allway Sync, works like a charm. I’ve been using it for the last few months, but as the number of files it has to monitor grows I more and more often run into warning messages from the program, that I should consider using the “Pro” version that costs $$$.
Since the files all aren’t big, just numerous. And since I more and more often forget to sync my USB stick I decided to build myself an own solution that works over the Internet with freeware. no more forgetting to sync the USB stick (or syncing and then forgetting to take the USB stick with me. doh.).
My new solution is basically based on 3 components. Storing the files online, connecting the online storage to the computers, and syncing the files. Storing and accessing the online storage with windows … well since my Linux server was going to be the storage and my windows clients were going to be accessing it, I couldn’t get around looking at Samba. Samba is not a good idea. Sure it’s nice for windows, just throw the IP, username and password at it and presto, it pops up as a drive letter. But trust me, anyone will tell you samba (or any windows shares for that matter) are not a good idea in the Internet. While searching for alternatives I found a program called Netdrive that allows you to connect a webdav directory as a drive letter. Very nice. So I set up webdav on my webserver and use a Microsoft program Synctoy for synchronisation.
So that was basically what I did this morning between watching comics in TV and waiting for lunch.
Try free open-source unison. Not as polished as synctoy, but unlike synctoy, is actively maintained and actually has bugs fixed! Runs on Win, Mac, Linux, etc. For windows with GUI, as follows:
1. Install free pidgin IM (which installs GTK2).
2. Get the windows binaries, unzip and drop into “…gtk2\bin” folder. Create a shortcut to the unison-gu i.exe that starts in that same gtk2\bin folder.’
If ssh.exe is in your path, It can sync via ssh to linux box that only needs ssh port open. (Works if you copy ssh2.exe from fsecure/ssh to ssh.exe and put in path). Multiple pairs of boxes and/or usb-sticks all can have 2-way sync (newest items from both are updated on both).