It's hard work keeping files in sync between my 6 computers, therefore I've been looking for a solution to fix this problem. I need a program that allows folder synchronization, over my local network. I don't want it to synchronize with a cloud. (Like Dropbox)

My 6 computers are:
- My primary desktop pc (Win7)
- 2 x desktops (Game servers, WinXP Pro)
- MacBook Pro (Snow Leopard)
- 2 x laptops (Both running Win7)

Any suggestions on the best solution?
- I've been thinking on an FTP solution.

Thanks!
- Jobbe

Tags: cloud, ftp, lan, network, synchronize

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Permalink Reply by JS on December 21, 2010 at 2:48pm

I use a 500GB external USB HDD and an Apple Airport Extreme. Files are accessible from all platforms.

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Permalink Reply by Morten Jakobsen on December 21, 2010 at 3:08pm

Uhm, I'm not looking into "central storage".. more into synchronization - so I got the same files on all 6 computers.

My primary desktop computer got, in total, 3,5 TB space, so it's gonna be my "central storage", but i want my documents and such to be in sync on all my computers - so I can use any of my computers - or take a laptop with me, and still be able to work with my documents.

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Permalink Reply by SniperKitten on December 23, 2010 at 5:06am

Use your game server also as file server, synchronising 6 pc's on FTP is not a good solution what if you worked really hard on a file on your desktop, the sync fails and you open it on your laptop, say shit and reopen it on your desktop, when the laptop sync worked, all your changes are lost...

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Permalink Reply by Morten Jakobsen on December 23, 2010 at 5:29am

Thanks for the answer.

I'm not going to use my game server, since it's a small harddrive (40GB each) - I store all my files on my primary desktop, which is on most of the time anyways.

My primary desktop is (as it ways) the computer i primary use, when I'm out i take a laptop, so i dont think i will run into the problem with files that gets lost.

But thanks anyway :)

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Permalink Reply by Alistair Chong on December 23, 2010 at 5:16am

I use Karens Replicator, it is freeware and works on most platforms. I am not sure about Mac, but you could have a look, I know that it will work with all the other comps. The problem you are going to face with your FTP is that it is going to be slow.

The other option that you could look at doing (which would also be more secure) is getting yourself a cheap raid server, and then using karens to backup to and from that, then you will always have a raid 5 protection on your data, so if anything ever goes down you know you have a backup on the parity.

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Permalink Reply by Morten Jakobsen on December 23, 2010 at 5:33am

Thanks for the program, i'm testing it right now - But this program (Karen's Replicator) will it be able to sync files?

I.e. copying files from the backup, onto other computers?

For the part with a raid server, as i said above, then im gonna let my desktop be the "server" since it's the computer with the most storage.

I'll get back when i've tested the program, thanks!

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Permalink Reply by Morten Jakobsen on December 23, 2010 at 5:58am

Update:

I tested the program, and it's best as a backup tool IMO!

I tired:

1: Make a new text document

2: Wait for it to copy on main machine

3: Edit the file

4: Delte the file on the computer that created the file

5: Save the file (after opeing the edit promt)

6: Let it get the files from the source

Result: It deleted the file, even though the "last modify date" was never on the machine it was edited on than the computer that deleted the file ..

Thats no good ....

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Permalink Reply by Spiff Slalom on December 23, 2010 at 5:58am

I also use Karen's Replicator - Love it! I use it to synch my desktop & netbook (which serves as offsite backups when I'm offsite).

But be sure you also replicate your Replicator settings as a backup...

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Permalink Reply by Morten Jakobsen on December 23, 2010 at 5:59am

How did you set it up?

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Permalink Reply by Morten Jakobsen on December 23, 2010 at 6:00am

I found this program: http://www.nchsoftware.com/fling/index.html

Anyone who have some experience with this?

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Permalink Reply by Spiff Slalom on December 23, 2010 at 6:19am

I set it up on my desktop to copy the files I'm concerned with to a shared folder in the wee hours of the morning, and on my netbook to synch from the shared folder at 6AM, if it's on or hibernating. Synching from Netbook to Desktop is the same in reverse, but kicked off manually since it's a rare occurrance.

Not sure exactly what you mean with that file deletion process, but try it again with the 'Replicate Folder & File Deletions' box unchecked. If you modified the file in the shared folder then deleted the original file, then ran it again, it could have said 'Oh, the original file got deleted, so I need to delete it from the shared folder as well.' Then there was nothing to synch back to replace the original file.

Possibly just changing the order in which the jobs run would help.

You kind of have to watch your inclusion/exclusion filters & 'include subdirectories' checkbox because you can end up copying a lot more files than necessary if you make an error on those.