File Mirroring software

Elementalor

Hey all, So I'm looking for some recommendations of good file mirroring software. Customizable for certain folders/files and times.

I'm mainly looking for something fast, reliable, and preferably something that won't bog down the given systems too much.

I don't mind buying, but I'd like to hear some good user experiences.

Thanks!

Echo

Operating system?

I've used rsync for lots of stuff between Linux, OS X and Windows.

Elementalor

Ah, sorry, Windows. (Vista, XP, Server) Most likely XP though.

Ah, also file verification would be neato.

GrimReaper

Elementalor wrote: »

Hey all, So I'm looking for some recommendations of good file mirroring software. Customizable for certain folders/files and times.

I'm mainly looking for something fast, reliable, and preferably something that won't bog down the given systems too much.

I don't mind buying, but I'd like to hear some good user experiences.

Thanks!

Damn, I dug out some software to use myself a while back for windows that did this exact thing..

Can't remember the name damn it..

I'll see if I can dig it out of the recesses of my decrepit mind.

ZackSchilling

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=c26efa36-98e0-4ee9-a7c5-98d0592d8c52&DisplayLang=en

?

Daedalus

Dropbox?

Are you looking to back up to other computers, or to removable media?

Elementalor

Pretty much keeping certain folders mirrored, NAS/attached storage that kind of thing.

I'm in the process of trying the different things you guys have suggested so far. Looking for something that will keep a minimum load on the network.

So far tried folderclone, pretty terrible network bogging/flooding especially when there's nothing for it to do. Which I thought was wierd. Gonna try the rsync and SyncToy next.

zeeny

Looking for something that will keep a minimum load on the network.

rsync. As already suggested.

xzzy

rsync can be a huge resource hog if you don't set it up carefully though.

If you get problems running it over ssh, try running an rsync server. It's a bit less secure, but it can be a lot more efficient.

Echo

Pre-emptive note: Windows uses a lower granularity in timestamps for files than Unix, so rsync might get confused and have to recheck a file that still has the same timestamp in both places. Use --modify-window=1 to tell rsync to use less granularity as well.

Had that problem when syncing 6-8 gigs and it insisted on re-checking every file despite the timestamps matching until I discovered that. After that the complete sync takes a few seconds with no files changed.

RBach

Rsync doesn't do bidirectional syncs though, doesn't it? Unison would be better suited to that. I'd personally recommend Synctoy instead, though. It's very easy to use and has been rock solid for me.

xzzy

You can coerce rsync to be "bi-directional" by running it twice. You want to use the -a and -u options, then swap directories for each run.

andkore

DirSyncPro

Edit: Link was screwed up

Elementalor

Hmmm all very great info, thanks everyone. I'm gonna give rsync a shot tomorrow. And then synctoy Tuesday regardless of how rsync works, just to be sure.

Cronus

Elementalor wrote: »

Hmmm all very great info, thanks everyone. I'm gonna give rsync a shot tomorrow. And then synctoy Tuesday regardless of how rsync works, just to be sure.

I was going to recommend SyncToy. That is a good one to check out. The interface is unusually simple for an MS app and unfortunately that hurts here, as there are just some things that take way to long to do. It does give you several different options for mirroring the files which should cover everything you want. It's worked great for me. I have it running weekly and mirroring folder trees from my main machine over my home network to my media center. It closes itself after running and so I forget it's even there.