Arch Linux

hak5fan

Member

Registered: 2008-08-31

Posts: 5

Syncing files - multiple machines

I have multiple computers, and I want to make sure that my files are accessible at all times.

My machines:
Thinkpad R52 Laptop
2.8GHz pentium 4 2gb ram desktop
Asus EEEPC 900
An other machine with almost same specs as desktop, with no ram in it.

I don't want to put all my files on the web for security reasons, and I don't always carry my external HD. Everything school related is stored on the university server and sync to my laptop with unison. I work mostly with text documents and program code, but I also want access to my music and pictures.  As i see it I have two choices. Set up some kind of syncing capable of merging changes to a document across more that two computers (like unison, but syncing more than two directories) or set up my 4th machine as a server and store all my things there, and then make everything accesible through a vpn. I have a 1MB/s SDSL  internet connection so it should at least be able to stream my music for a server.  What would you do? Software and hardware recommandations.

ngoonee

Forum Fellow

From: Between Thailand and Singapore

Registered: 2009-03-17

Posts: 7,358

Re: Syncing files - multiple machines

3 or more way sync is iffy at best. Having a machine set up as a server is your best bet I believe. I'm sketchy on details since I just carry a laptop around with me to do everything.

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vacant

Member

From: downstairs

Registered: 2004-11-05

Posts: 816

Re: Syncing files - multiple machines

I can't imagine why security prevents you from storing music on the web. As for pictures, OK, maybe you have a few personal ones that you don't trust to web storage.

So I suggest gpg encrypting your private documents, coding projects and some pictures then store them on the web along with unencrypted music and other pictures.

Lastly, the more data you acquire, the less likely you are to need a particular random item. In practise this means you'll spend more time working out and implementing a "total solution" to have immediate access to your entire music collection, than the time spent uploading a playlist to a USB stick the night before.

hak5fan

Member

Registered: 2008-08-31

Posts: 5

Re: Syncing files - multiple machines

Thanks for answers

I like having control over my files, and I currently live at two different places, meaning that the files on my desktop isn't always accesible and can't easily be saved to a usb stick, unless i know a week in advance which files i'm going to need.

Last edited by hak5fan (2010-01-05 11:59:53)

chpln

Member

From: Australia

Registered: 2009-09-17

Posts: 361

Re: Syncing files - multiple machines

Setting up a server would be my preference.  Maybe you could also get away with using a dVCS (such as git) to keep files in sync across the three machines.

faelar

Member

From: Amiens (FR)

Registered: 2007-12-18

Posts: 232

Website

Re: Syncing files - multiple machines

SSHFS + SSHMNT

MPD for the music

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ArchServer

Lexion

Member

Registered: 2008-03-23

Posts: 510

Re: Syncing files - multiple machines

I have a webserver so I can access my documents and pictures (it's password protected) and a git codeserver for my code. I wrote a script which calls scp to upload to the webserver. This works for me, and I have three computers (soon to be four/five/six)

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