File synchronization software.

wildest_jjk said:
Well it will be about 100GB initially then of course it will be incremental. To be honest I think it still sounds the best option. The only other one is SyncToy really. I can't see that any others will be suitable.

The thing that concerns me most is the scheduling of robocopy for example. I was hoping the syncing will be checking all the time!

Thanks again :)
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Cloud storage of the Dropbox type would be the best for what you want to achieve - the synced folders are continuously monitored, and any changes/additions/deletions are immediately copied to your online storage and automagically propagated to any other machines running the software. The downside of course is cost, so if you go down this route you might also want to check out the alternatives - Sugarsync, Spideroak, Wuala are some examples that spring to mind.

If security is a serious issue, Spideroak or Wuala would be your best bet, as they perform client-side encryption and nothing ever leaves your own system unencrypted - Dropbox does encrypt your files, but the encryption is performed by them at the server end, and they could in theory gain access to your data, although it's their company policy not to do so (for whatever that's worth).

If you just want simple machine to machine syncing on your local network, check out FreeFileSync - it's faster, more reliable and has many more features than SyncToy, which has always left me considerably underwhelmed whenever I've used it. It also incorporates a realtime syncing component called (unsurprisingly) RealtimeSync which could be handy if you want your folders continuously monitored rather than periodic syncing on a schedule, although I've never used it personally so couldn't vouch for its ease of use or effectiveness. :)

edit: just noticed that FreeFileSync was in fact mentioned earlier in the thread - IMO it's currently the best of its type, although there are plenty of other options (free and commercial).
 
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MarcLister said:
Not sure. I've not used Live Mesh so I can't really answer for it. :)

Yep. I use it to send stuff to work so there's no bother with email or pendrives. I tend to use Dropbox for documents and a pen drive for larger programs.

I've not seen bledd's script yet but I do know that the 7-Zip interface has several levels of compression. I think the 'Ultra' level of compression is meant to be quite good compared to .zip. I'd be surprised if bledd's script didn't allow for the specification of what compression level you wanted.
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I have tried live mesh just because everybodys experience with it seems to be positive. Its also because it is continuous which I think is better for this situation! I will post back here how it goes and if any problems arise.

I am definitely going to use dropbox for my work documents. I would like to get the extra storage if possible though because I think that will be well worth it! I tried the dropbox link that you posted and downloaded the .exe on there. But I am not sure if that is how I get the extra storage? I went on the overclockers link and that seems to be from the beginning of this month as well. So is it over now?

CaptainCrash said:
Cloud storage of the Dropbox type would be the best for what you want to achieve - the synced folders are continuously monitored, and any changes/additions/deletions are immediately copied to your online storage and automagically propagated to any other machines running the software. The downside of course is cost, so if you go down this route you might also want to check out the alternatives - Sugarsync, Spideroak, Wuala are some examples that spring to mind.

If security is a serious issue, Spideroak or Wuala would be your best bet, as they perform client-side encryption and nothing ever leaves your own system unencrypted - Dropbox does encrypt your files, but the encryption is performed by them at the server end, and they could in theory gain access to your data, although it's their company policy not to do so (for whatever that's worth).

If you just want simple machine to machine syncing on your local network, check out FreeFileSync - it's faster, more reliable and has many more features than SyncToy, which has always left me considerably underwhelmed whenever I've used it. It also incorporates a realtime syncing component called (unsurprisingly) RealtimeSync which could be handy if you want your folders continuously monitored rather than periodic syncing on a schedule, although I've never used it personally so couldn't vouch for its ease of use or effectiveness. :)

edit: just noticed that FreeFileSync was in fact mentioned earlier in the thread - IMO it's currently the best of its type, although there are plenty of other options (free and commercial).
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Thanks for your response. I am looking into backblaze for my main cloud storage system. This is because it is cheaper and has much more space than the others, as well as being encrypted. Overall I need to store quite a bit of data (two computers).

FreeFileSync might be another option in terms of syncing my laptop to my desktop, but I am just seeing how live mesh works for now!
 
wildest_jjk said:
Thanks for your response. I am looking into backblaze for my main cloud storage system. This is because it is cheaper and has much more space than the others, as well as being encrypted. Overall I need to store quite a bit of data (two computers).
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Backblaze is really a dedicated backup system, rather than a means to sync/access common data across multiple locations or machines, although I'm sure it's fine if that's what you want (you could also check out Crashplan as another option).

Incidentally, if you want client-side encryption for your work documents synced with Dropbox (or one of its alternatives), have a look at SecretSync - 2GB free, which might be enough for your needs, and up to 1TB if you're willing to stump up the cash. :)
 
So far live mesh has been both good and bad. For a start I don't think it runs on startup meaning continuous synchronization isn't possible until you manually start it? I might be wrong with this.

Also one thing I realised is that any modifications that you do in either folder will affect both. That is of course the point of windows live mesh however I don't want any changes to be made on the desktop. As this is in a sense a backup to my desktop no accidental changes should be represented in the source folder!

So by the looks of things its probably back to either FreeFileSync or robocopy. I believe they both have a features to only make changes in one folder to be reflected in the other, but not the other way around.

CaptainCrash said:
Backblaze is really a dedicated backup system, rather than a means to sync/access common data across multiple locations or machines, although I'm sure it's fine if that's what you want (you could also check out Crashplan as another option).

Incidentally, if you want client-side encryption for your work documents synced with Dropbox (or one of its alternatives), have a look at SecretSync - 2GB free, which might be enough for your needs, and up to 1TB if you're willing to stump up the cash. :)
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Thanks for the response. You might not have understood what I am doing, so I'll explain briefly here :) Sync software backups up certain folders from my laptop to desktop. Cloud based storage then backs up my desktop which will also include my laptop. Don't know if that makes sense? :)

The thing with dropbox I don't really know how it works yet. Do you have to install it on every machine? Or can you just work on documents by downloading from dropbox, making changes and then sending it back up? With the encryption methods to use alongside dropbox will they work on any computer I am on, or do I have to have special software installed everytime?

Thanks again :D
 
For backup, also see crashplan. Excellent product and service. Computer to computer even over Internet is free. Computer to cloud you pay as little as 1.99 a month.

I use a combination of Dropbox, robocopy and crashplan. It works great.
 
Dropbox for all personal docs and work docs. I use it religiously, it's honestly ace. I love the fact USB keys are a thing of the past, all my docs are synced seamlessly between home and work; and best of all my docs a available to me on my iPhone for quick viewing before meetings or when you need that important doc thee and then. I also use it to give people a download link of a particular doc. I wouldn't go back to not having it honestly.


Crashplan backs up my computers and server to the Internet. It does this without complaint or problem, it just works. If for any reason there are issues I get an automated email from crashplan telling me. I have the friends and family pack which means I can back up 6 computers. I also use this to back up my server to the cloud. I also use it to backup my client pcs to my home server so I have a quick onsite backup, which in turn is sent to the cloud. I also use crashplan to give my friends free offsite backup to my house server. They simply install the free version and I give them a friend code, and it just starts backing o their stuff to my house. It's all encrypted so I can't view it etc.

I use robocopy to move films etc from the servers internal raid drive onto an large external USB disk.

Belt and braces ;)

Dropbox for syncing
Robocopy for onsite backup/copy etc
Crashplan for offsite backups
 
So for dropbox that is pretty much exactly what I am doing. A side note, do you know how to get the free space using the camera upload feature quickly? I just made a thread in the storage section.

I then need to backup both my laptop and desktop using backblaze or crashplan. To get around buying a more expensive package I was going to use robocopy/live mesh/freefilesync to backup the necessary laptop folders to my desktop. Then just backup the desktop.

EDIT: As I said earlier I am currently using live mesh and its worked fine, but I do not think it is really what I need.

Also does crashplan back up everything? So things like appdata?

Thanks :)
 
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wildest_jjk said:
So for dropbox that is pretty much exactly what I am doing. A side note, do you know how to get the free space using the camera upload feature quickly? I just made a thread in the storage section.
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Record a 20 minute video on a smartphone in HD goodness, if you can, and upload that. Either that or upload pictures.
 
MarcLister said:
Record a 20 minute video on a smartphone in HD goodness, if you can, and upload that. Either that or upload pictures.
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Thanks very much, someone just said exactly the same thing in another thread! Just recording at the moment :) Then a free 3GB to me :P

Thanks so much for telling me that! Great no longer needing a data stick :D

Back to my original topic I haave uninstalled live mesh because its not right for what I need. The other person suggested using crashplan but again you still have to pay more for having more than one device.

So I still think the best option is to send the things I need from my laptop to my desktop computer first. Going to try freefilesync next as it is continous I believe, is that correct?

Thanks everyone!
 
wildest_jjk said:
Thanks very much, someone just said exactly the same thing in another thread! Just recording at the moment :) Then a free 3GB to me :P

Thanks so much for telling me that! Great no longer needing a data stick :D

Back to my original topic I haave uninstalled live mesh because its not right for what I need. The other person suggested using crashplan but again you still have to pay more for having more than one device.

So I still think the best option is to send the things I need from my laptop to my desktop computer first. Going to try freefilesync next as it is continous I believe, is that correct?

Thanks everyone!
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No probs. :) You will to install the beta Dropbox version and then bung the video onto a pen drive so that the Windows Autoplay feature detects the pen drive and you click on the Dropbox option. You should then start to get the extra space.
 
Totally different tack...

I am a dad with wife and three children. The children have access to two fixed computers and my wife and I have laptops.

I have installed a simple single drive NAS (Synology) with a data/documents folder for each person. On all four computers I have set up separate accounts/logins and passwords for all five of us. The target file for each person's "My Documents" folder is their folder on the NAS. That way when they save a file to a My Documents folder it is saved on a NAS and not on the computer they are sitting at.

That way they automatically access the same data whichever computer they are sitting at.

One of the fixed computers works as a "hub" for the whole system. It is located next to the router and NAS with a wired network connection (all the others are wireless N connections). I use this for backup.

I use ViceVersa backup/sync software on the hub computer. This automatically synchronises the data folders on the NAS with identical data folders on an internal hard drive every 10 minutes whenever it is on (no need to be logged in). That way all files are on both the NAS and the hub computer.

ViceVersa is the most flexible and reliable software I have found. It does just about anything you can imagine needing to do from two-way sync to one way "mirror" and all varieties in between. It also archives old copies of files (in case you want to back track) and will encrypt and compress too if you want. However because of this it is quite complex and a bit of a learning curve.

I also use the same ViceVersa software on both laptops so that the MyDocuments folders are duplicated on the laptop so that when you disconnect from the network and use the lappie outside the house you still have access to all your data.

Ideally it would be better to have a copy of Windows 7 Pro and use its "offline files" function, but that is more expensive and less flexible than ViceVersa.

Music and photos are stored centrally on the NAS too and synced to the hub computer. I don't sync these to the laptops for file size reasons, and also everybody has their own iThings and Spotify for music anyway. I also run Squeezebox Server software on the NAS for my two Logitech Squeezebox Duet players.

The only thing missing is an off-site backup. With over 500GB of music and photos already using on-line or cloud storage would be prohibitively expensive, so I will probably buy a portable hard drive and sync data, photos and music with that and keep it at work.
 
Thanks for the response. The trouble with using a NAS for me is that because I want to use an online backup system they do not allow backing up of network storage devices. Not that I know of anyway. It would also not be much good for me because the main point to what I want to do is to back up safely and securely, as oppose to sharing between devices.

In terms of the viceversa software that could be quite good depending on how it compares with freefilesync. The trouble is I do not want my desktop documents on my laptop due to storage issues. Using the sync software will allow me to send the files I want to backup to my desktop and then just backup my desktop. So I will definitely look into that software.

Another problem I have thought of when syncing my laptop is the backup of application data. Some files store application data in other places so I think the only way of really backing them up is with system images.

I really can't decide the best solution to my problem. It's a real pain!

Thanks for the advice :)

EDIT: Unless there is software I can use that will backup any amount of devices to a single local device. For instance a computer used as a server or hub as you referred to it. Then it will automatically synchronize the backups anytime changes are made. This would be a full backup for each device. I could then use my cloud based storage to back up the server which would count as one device? Then I can access any single file from any backup anywhere?
 
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Crashplan will backup your computers to a central location for free; as many as you want. If you have a mate running crashplan you can backup to his computer again for free.

Edit. And to be honest for what 2 quid a month it's worth full peace of mind backup if you ask me.
 
wildest_jjk said:
Thanks for the response. Nobody I know has crashplan unfortunately. The local backup does sound pretty good as well. What do you mean by £2 a month?

Thanks :)
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£2 a month gets you a crashplan account which will backup one pc with unlimited amount of data. So copy all your data to one pc using robocopy etc, and then backup this one pc with a paid version of crashplan.
 
I think its a bit more than £2 isn't it? Unless I am looking at the wrong place! Anyway so thats pretty much what I have been trying to achieve. Would it not work using crashplans local backup alongside its cloud backup?

Thanks.
 
crashplan+ unlimited is $3 per month, so in pounds thats like £2 or thereabouts. google crashplan and have a look.

the only reason i didnt say to use crashplan to move your files to the central "hub" is that it doesnt actually copy the files, it creates a "crashplan file" which contains your files, so they dont look like files on the "hub" computer. like i said above you cant open this backup file and just browse it like a folder. so im not sure what it would to back these files up into the cloud.
 
Ahh right yer that is exactly what I don't want. So would I sync every single file and folder on my laptop? Just in case anything happens? Or would it just be personal files etc.

I was hoping the cloud storage would give me access to individual files should I need to as well.

Thanks :)
 
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