Know of any good software for Syncing files/folders?

Pernicious · June 16, 2008, 11:41 AM

Hey everyone,

I have a question regarding Syncing folders/files. First, let me explain my setup.

A several months ago I had some severe thunderstorm nearly destroy my computer. It scrambled my disk controller on my motherboard and that also messed up my hard drives. I do a lot of freelance illustration/design/photography on the side from my normal job and I was terrified to learn I may have lost it all. My normal back up device had failed as well. I realized I had a poor system at that point. $500 later I got new hardware and my system up and running again. Shortly after I got a UPS to provide extra protection. And just recently I purchased a 1tb external hard drive.

Here is my ultimate goal. I have already set up this new drive to be the location that my backup software (OneCare) saves to for my desktop and laptop. I also copied all my music/photography/artwork onto this drive. What I'm searching for is some type of software that will quietly run in the background and monitor certain folders/files and keep them synchronized with folders/files on this new external drive I have.

That way, if I ever work on my notebook, go home and plug it in to my home network, all the updated files will automatically transfer to the remote storage. In tern my home computer also running the software will see changes and copy those files down to my local disk and visa versa. This way regardless of where I am working I will have my PC, Notebook, and backup location all up to date with whatever projects I'm working on.

I haven't found a light weight program that does this yet. Most only synchronize when you tell them to, or when you schedule them to and not real time. Or they have a lot of "extra" features that do nothing for me but take up disk space and clog memory usage. Does anybody happen to know of some software that does this? It really seems like a simple concept to me.

Absalom · June 16, 2008, 11:53 AM

I know that Seagate added something like this to their external drives, though I don't know how much that really helps you. If they have the software available on their website (they likely don't but worth a try) you can check that out.

Otherwise, short of finding a good polished product you can do it the techie way and write a couple scripts and schedule them to run at a certain time. It should be relatively simple to do I would think. Just set the scripts to back up the folders you want onto your external drive.

I actually was about to do this for my girlfriend before she decided just to buy the seagate drive and be done with it.

mavric240 · June 16, 2008, 01:42 PM

Look at this link and see if its what your looking for
http://www.softsland.com/compare_and..._software.html

lo-tek · June 16, 2008, 05:14 PM

You might take a look at Windows Home Server. It has an agent that syncs. I've never used it but some of the people I work with seem to think it's the bomb for syncing files and folders.

Pernicious · June 16, 2008, 09:48 PM

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll be sure and look them over.
If anyone else has any more, I'd like to hear it. The more options the better I say.

June 16, 2008, 11:41 AM	#1 (permalink)
Pernicious Character Info Pernicious 74 Blood Elf Warlock Dark Iron US PvP Guild: Dire Beef Profile: Blizzard Armory Talent Spec: 0/52/9	Know of any good software for Syncing files/folders? Hey everyone, I have a question regarding Syncing folders/files. First, let me explain my setup. A several months ago I had some severe thunderstorm nearly destroy my computer. It scrambled my disk controller on my motherboard and that also messed up my hard drives. I do a lot of freelance illustration/design/photography on the side from my normal job and I was terrified to learn I may have lost it all. My normal back up device had failed as well. I realized I had a poor system at that point. $500 later I got new hardware and my system up and running again. Shortly after I got a UPS to provide extra protection. And just recently I purchased a 1tb external hard drive. Here is my ultimate goal. I have already set up this new drive to be the location that my backup software (OneCare) saves to for my desktop and laptop. I also copied all my music/photography/artwork onto this drive. What I'm searching for is some type of software that will quietly run in the background and monitor certain folders/files and keep them synchronized with folders/files on this new external drive I have. That way, if I ever work on my notebook, go home and plug it in to my home network, all the updated files will automatically transfer to the remote storage. In tern my home computer also running the software will see changes and copy those files down to my local disk and visa versa. This way regardless of where I am working I will have my PC, Notebook, and backup location all up to date with whatever projects I'm working on. I haven't found a light weight program that does this yet. Most only synchronize when you tell them to, or when you schedule them to and not real time. Or they have a lot of "extra" features that do nothing for me but take up disk space and clog memory usage. Does anybody happen to know of some software that does this? It really seems like a simple concept to me. Last edited by Pernicious; June 16, 2008 at 11:45 AM. Reason: Clearifications, edits, revisions, and kicking the typo gremlins.

June 16, 2008, 11:53 AM	#2 (permalink)
Absalom Destruction Warlock Character Info Lavath 70 Blood Elf Warlock Shadow Council US RP Guild: Syk Profile: Blizzard Armory Talent Spec: 0/14/47	Re: Know of any good software for Syncing files/folders? I know that Seagate added something like this to their external drives, though I don't know how much that really helps you. If they have the software available on their website (they likely don't but worth a try) you can check that out. Otherwise, short of finding a good polished product you can do it the techie way and write a couple scripts and schedule them to run at a certain time. It should be relatively simple to do I would think. Just set the scripts to back up the folders you want onto your external drive. I actually was about to do this for my girlfriend before she decided just to buy the seagate drive and be done with it.

June 16, 2008, 01:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
mavric240 Member Character Info sassyevil 70 Undead Warlock Trollbane US PvE Profile: Blizzard Armory Talent Spec: 0/44/17	Re: Know of any good software for Syncing files/folders? Look at this link and see if its what your looking for http://www.softsland.com/compare_and..._software.html

June 16, 2008, 05:14 PM	#4 (permalink)
lo-tek Registered Character Info Moralis 59 Undead Warlock Bladefin US PvE Guild: Hordeland Security	Re: Know of any good software for Syncing files/folders? You might take a look at Windows Home Server. It has an agent that syncs. I've never used it but some of the people I work with seem to think it's the bomb for syncing files and folders.

June 16, 2008, 09:48 PM	#5 (permalink)
Pernicious Character Info Pernicious 74 Blood Elf Warlock Dark Iron US PvP Guild: Dire Beef Profile: Blizzard Armory Talent Spec: 0/52/9	Re: Know of any good software for Syncing files/folders? Thanks for the suggestions. I'll be sure and look them over. If anyone else has any more, I'd like to hear it. The more options the better I say.