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**rm2** · 12-08-2010, 07:40 AM

Keeping your computers in sync An alien’s viewpoint

sameagle · 12-08-2010, 09:24 AM

I struggle with this issue as I have a bunch of computers.

I am giving dropbox a try, but I will only use it for a small set of useful files, not for my whole file backup/sync strategy. I don't want to pay for their premium service to back up all of my photos and videos etc etc.

I have been using 2Brightsparks' software called syncback, which is free. It is pretty flexible for backups and syncing.

I am also going to give "synctoy" a little bit more time for usage and testing.

I think my strategy is going to be to have 1 drive (external) be designated as my master drive. I will then push changes (adds, changes, deletes) from the master down to the backup drives.

It's going to take a lot of work to get to a perfect state, though.

**rm2** · 12-08-2010, 10:58 AM

Try using TrueCrypt. It works very well. It allows you to create encrypted container files that you can mount as drives. Place your container files in the Dropbox folder and you are set. If you use key files (which you should) keep them outside of Dropbox for more security.

pop4 · 12-08-2010, 06:00 PM

Originally posted by sameagle

I am also going to give "synctoy" a little bit more time for usage and testing.

I tried synctoy for about a week, and after two BSODs while the program was running, I've switched over to FreeFileSync, which I've found to be much, much faster than synctoy, and it hasn't given me any problems at all.

I find Dropbox good for online collaboration with other people though,

**rm2** · 12-09-2010, 12:33 PM

This looks like a potentially great improvement over SyncToy, and it is cross-platform.

Synkron - Folder synchronisation

mysticcowboy · 12-15-2010, 11:51 PM

When I worked for a design agency, we kept all our files on a network attached server (NAS). I still do that. You can either get a dedicated NAS device or use an older computer as a file server. No sense duplicating files on multiple computers. I keep all working files on firewire connected old laptop that has a crappy screen, and access them from any computer on the network. I back up daily through an external hard drive.

Dropbox and other internet based solutions are fine, but moving files in the cloud is a huge bandwidth hog. Dropbox is great for text files and as a backup for jpegs. I wouldn't save pefs or tiffs that way.

12-08-2010, 07:40 AM	#1
rm2 Site Supporter Join Date: May 2007 Location: Hudson Valley - NY Posts: 778	Keeping your computers in sync Keeping your computers in sync An alien’s viewpoint

12-09-2010, 12:33 PM	#5
rm2 Site Supporter Join Date: May 2007 Location: Hudson Valley - NY Posts: 778 Original Poster	Synkron This looks like a potentially great improvement over SyncToy, and it is cross-platform. Synkron - Folder synchronisation

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12-08-2010, 09:24 AM	#2
sameagle Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Boston, MA Photos: Gallery Posts: 323	I struggle with this issue as I have a bunch of computers. I am giving dropbox a try, but I will only use it for a small set of useful files, not for my whole file backup/sync strategy. I don't want to pay for their premium service to back up all of my photos and videos etc etc. I have been using 2Brightsparks' software called syncback, which is free. It is pretty flexible for backups and syncing. I am also going to give "synctoy" a little bit more time for usage and testing. I think my strategy is going to be to have 1 drive (external) be designated as my master drive. I will then push changes (adds, changes, deletes) from the master down to the backup drives. It's going to take a lot of work to get to a perfect state, though.

12-08-2010, 10:58 AM	#3
rm2 Site Supporter Join Date: May 2007 Location: Hudson Valley - NY Posts: 778 Original Poster	Try using TrueCrypt. It works very well. It allows you to create encrypted container files that you can mount as drives. Place your container files in the Dropbox folder and you are set. If you use key files (which you should) keep them outside of Dropbox for more security.

12-08-2010, 06:00 PM	#4
pop4 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: YMML Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,879	Originally posted by sameagle I am also going to give "synctoy" a little bit more time for usage and testing. I tried synctoy for about a week, and after two BSODs while the program was running, I've switched over to FreeFileSync, which I've found to be much, much faster than synctoy, and it hasn't given me any problems at all. I find Dropbox good for online collaboration with other people though,

12-15-2010, 11:51 PM	#6
mysticcowboy Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: port townsend, wa Photos: Albums Posts: 968	When I worked for a design agency, we kept all our files on a network attached server (NAS). I still do that. You can either get a dedicated NAS device or use an older computer as a file server. No sense duplicating files on multiple computers. I keep all working files on firewire connected old laptop that has a crappy screen, and access them from any computer on the network. I back up daily through an external hard drive. Dropbox and other internet based solutions are fine, but moving files in the cloud is a huge bandwidth hog. Dropbox is great for text files and as a backup for jpegs. I wouldn't save pefs or tiffs that way.