[jayzee786]

Hey guy's wondering if anyone knows any software which can sync multiple "my documents" folders in real time over a lan.

Basically I want my desktop, laptop and netbook to have the exact my documents folder so say I create a file on the desktop it automatically gets synced to the laptop and the netbook within minutes. Just like dropbox works but obviously only over the lan.

Regards

Edit I've found this http://www.syncback4all.com/ but wondering if there are any freeware alternatives.

[Stig]

You could look at Microsoft's SyncToy.

[The Rat]

Originally Posted by jayzee786

Hey guy's wondering if anyone knows any software which can sync multiple "my documents" folders in real time over a lan.

Basically I want my desktop, laptop and netbook to have the exact my documents folder so say I create a file on the desktop it automatically gets synced to the laptop and the netbook within minutes. Just like dropbox works but obviously only over the lan.

Regards

Edit I've found this http://www.syncback4all.com/ but wondering if there are any freeware alternatives.

Microsoft in their infinite wisdom have stopped supporting it, but what you need is Windows Live Mesh available from: http://www.softpedia.com/get/Interne...ive-Mesh.shtml

Create a sync partnership between your documents folders on each PC (you can have as many as you want) and Live Mesh will keep them in sync over a LAN or even the wider Internet. You can still use the 5GB of online Skydrive storage to enable sync between folders even if one of the PCs is offline. Requires a Windows Live ID (or Microsoft Account as it is known now).

Dave

[platelet]

synctoy is a pain in the butt to use.

Mesh is great but I thought Microsoft were trying to kill it off.

From what I remember www.cubby.com who are a dropbox clone offer the facility to do what you want - basically cutting the online bit out of the equation and the associated space limitations.

[The Rat]

Originally Posted by platelet

Mesh is great but I thought Microsoft were trying to kill it off.

For all intents purposes, they have. It still works if you already have it installed (thankfully), and although the official installer from MS is no longer available you can download and install it from the Softpedia link above.

Originally Posted by platelet

From what I remember www.cubby.com who are a dropbox clone offer the facility to do what you want - basically cutting the online bit out of the equation and the associated space limitations.

Cubby is currently being discussed in the forums over at Ars as a suitable Live Mesh replacement. Indeed it should do what the OP wants, as will AeroFS.

Dave

[jayzee786]

have added my email address for cubby and aerofs just gotta wait now. are these suitable with NAS devices as well?

[The Rat]

Originally Posted by jayzee786

have added my email address for cubby and aerofs just gotta wait now. are these suitable with NAS devices as well?

I couldn't say specifically because I haven't used either with a NAS. They may require client installations to work.

One option that might be worth looking at is Synkron, which I know will sync with a NAS. Other benefits are open source (and hence free) as well as cross-platform and highly-configurable. Not sure about the automation side of it though which may make it closer to SyncToy than Live Mesh.

Dave

[edgayton]

I cast my vote for Quickshadow by Quicklytech. Does what I want very nicely and doesn't leave stray configuration files everywhere like SyncToy.

[jayzee786]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I've tried MS SyncToy unfortunately it didn't have any one click scheduling options.
Am using Allway sync atm with no source folder eg: whichever copy of the file is last modified that becomes the source.

I've setup file versioning for deletions and modifications. All files which are deleted or modified are copied over to a dedicated backup hard drive in one of my NAS enclosures.

Is there anypoint in setting up a file backup programme to daily back up at say 1 am or is allway sync good enough?

Thanks.