[sclug] rsync-like way of updating destination with newer files?

Tue Aug 12 22:32:25 UTC 2008

Hello all, first time poster here.

Strangely enough around the same time this topic came up, I too was
thinking about setting up some synchronising between my laptop and
desktop.  I work on whichever one is the most convienient for the
current situation and was going to look into rsync, but after reading
the suggestion for Unison I've given it a go and its just what I was
looking for!  I've been tinkering around tonight and I can get create,
update, delete etc and it propogates a treat.

I'm still fairly new to Linux, so was pleased to find it in the Ubuntu
repository (I'm currently running Hardy Heron).  Getting ssh setup was
a piece of cake, by which I was very surprised since I've never tried
before.

Up and running in 30 minutes. Top stuff!

Cheers,

Matt Cox.

2008/8/11  <sclug-request at sclug.org.uk>:
> Send sclug mailing list submissions to
>        sclug at sclug.org.uk
>
> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
>        http://sclug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/sclug
> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
>        sclug-request at sclug.org.uk
>
> You can reach the person managing the list at
>        sclug-owner at sclug.org.uk
>
> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> than "Re: Contents of sclug digest..."
>
>
> Today's Topics:
>
>   1. rsync-like way of updating destination with newer files?
>      (John Stumbles)
>   2. Re: rsync-like way of updating destination with newer files?
>      (Simon Huggins)
>   3. Re: rsync-like way of updating destination with newer     files?
>      (David Given)
>   4. Re: rsync-like way of updating destination with newer files?
>      (Peter Grandi)
>   5. SCLUG meeting this Wednesday 13th August at 19:30 (Simon Heywood)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Sun, 10 Aug 2008 16:32:00 +0100
> From: John Stumbles <sclug at yaph.org.uk>
> Subject: [sclug] rsync-like way of updating destination with newer
>        files?
> To: sclug <sclug at sclug.org.uk>
> Message-ID: <489F09F0.9090100 at yaph.org.uk>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> I've been setting up my laptop so that my home directory on it is a
> subset of my homedir on my main desktop machine. Straightforward enough
> with rsync.
>
> However I want, when I've altered or added files on the laptop, that I
> can automatically copy them back to the desktop. My first thought was
> rsync again, but this will restore older copies of files I've modified
> on the desktop since I last synced the two machines. This is not what I
> want :-)
>
> I'd have thought it was a common-enough requirement that there'd be some
> tool to do it, but can't think what. Anyone know of anything ready-rolled?
>
>
> --
> John Stumbles                                       http://yaph.org.uk
> :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Sun, 10 Aug 2008 16:42:25 +0100
> From: Simon Huggins <huggie at earth.li>
> Subject: Re: [sclug] rsync-like way of updating destination with newer
>        files?
> To: sclug at sclug.org.uk
> Message-ID: <20080810154225.GW8328 at paranoidfreak.co.uk>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
> On Sun, Aug 10, 2008 at 04:32:00PM +0100, John Stumbles wrote:
>> I'd have thought it was a common-enough requirement that there'd be some
>> tool to do it, but can't think what. Anyone know of anything ready-rolled?
>
> You want unison.
>
> It's rsync + some logic and prompts you to ask which way to transfer
> changes but mostly it gets it right for me.
>
> Simon.
>
> --
> [ "Bugs are nothing new, and nothing to be really afraid of." -- Linus ]
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Sun, 10 Aug 2008 16:48:27 +0100
> From: David Given <dg at cowlark.com>
> Subject: Re: [sclug] rsync-like way of updating destination with newer
>        files?
> To: sclug at sclug.org.uk
> Message-ID: <1218383307.15009.12.camel at rhean>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
> On Sun, 2008-08-10 at 16:32 +0100, John Stumbles wrote:
> [...]
>> I'd have thought it was a common-enough requirement that there'd be some
>> tool to do it, but can't think what. Anyone know of anything ready-rolled?
>
> rsync! The --update causes it to skip any file that exist on the
> destination that are newer than the source.
>
> However, if you want to do two-directional updates, I'm with Simon in
> recommending unison; it works extremely well, although it can be very
> slow when dealing with big files.
>
> --
> ???? ?????????????? ????? http://www.cowlark.com ?????
> ? "Turning, pages turning in the widening bath,
> ? The spine cannot bear the humidity.
> ? Books fall apart; the binding cannot hold.
> -------------- next part --------------
> A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
> Name: not available
> Type: application/pgp-signature
> Size: 189 bytes
> Desc: This is a digitally signed message part
> Url : http://sclug.org.uk/pipermail/sclug/attachments/20080810/0dd1ac78/attachment-0001.bin
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Sun, 10 Aug 2008 19:35:06 +0100
> From: pg_sclug at sclug.for.sabi.co.UK (Peter Grandi)
> Subject: Re: [sclug] rsync-like way of updating destination with newer
>        files?
> To: SCLUG <sclug at sclug.org.uk>
> Message-ID: <18591.13530.711884.509254 at tree.ty.sabi.co.uk>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
> [ ... ]
>
>> However I want, when I've altered or added files on the
>> laptop, that I can automatically copy them back to the
>> desktop.
>
> Same situation here. Bu I use the laptop for everything, and the
> desktop just for backup and file service.
>
>> My first thought was rsync again, but this will
>> restore older copies of files I've modified on the desktop
>> since I last synced the two machines.
>
> A very crude solution is adding "-u" to "rsync -axHS -v" for
> example. It does not handle deletions well of course, but then
> it is very difficult to do that.
>
>> This is not what I want :-) I'd have thought it was a
>> common-enough requirement [ ... ]
>
> I have just been looking for this myself for work, so I an share
> the results. There are many such tools and slightly different
> approaches. There is a list on Wikipedia too which includes some
> 2-way ones:
>
>  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File_synchronization
>
> I have seen 'csync' highly recommended, and I will try it. One
> used by a colleague is 'unison'. Novell have done an interesting
> one called 'iFolder' (apparently unfinished though).
>
>  http://www.csync.org/
>  http://www.cis.upenn.edu/~bcpierce/unison/
>  http://www.novell.com/products/ifolder/
>
> My current list also includes:
>
>  cwrsync       <http://www.itefix.no/i2/node/10650>
>  drsync        <http://hacks.dlux.hu/drsync/drsync.html>
>  rsnapshot     <http://www.rsnapshot.org/>
>  BackupPC      <http://backuppc.sourceforge.net/>
>  fsbackup.pl   <http://www.opennet.ru/dev/fsbackup/index_eng.shtml>
>  DirsSync      <http://dirssync.sourceforge.net/>
>  GNOME Conduit <http://www.conduit-project.org/>
>  SyncDir       <http://syncdir.sourceforge.net/>
>  FullSync      <http://fullsync.sourceforge.net/>
>  DirSyncPro    <http://directorysync.sourceforge.net/>
>  JFileSync     <http://jfilesync.sourceforge.net/>
>  SynchronEX    <http://www.xellsoft.com/SynchronEX.html>
>  PowerFolder   <http://wiki.powerfolder.com/wiki/Transfer_Modes>
>  SuperFlexible <http://www.superflexible.com/linux.htm>
>  DeltaCopy     <http://www.aboutmyip.com/AboutMyXApp/DeltaCopy.jsp>
>
> There are other approaches. Some people keep their home
> directory entirely under a versions control system like
> SVN and check in/check out updates across several machines.
>
> Another is to use a "migrating" filesystem like OpenAFS or
> Coda/Intermezzo (far more complicated).
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2008 10:00:02 +0100 (BST)
> From: Simon Heywood <simon at triv.org.uk>
> Subject: [sclug] SCLUG meeting this Wednesday 13th August at 19:30
> To: sclug at sclug.org.uk
> Message-ID: <20080811090002.2F7C944451 at volta.triv.org.uk>
>
> The next meeting of the SCLUG will be at the Back of Beyond pub in
> King's Road, Reading, at 19:30 this Wednesday.
>
> See http://www.sclug.org.uk/ for directions.
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> sclug mailing list
> sclug at sclug.org.uk
> http://sclug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/sclug
>
> End of sclug Digest, Vol 59, Issue 8
> ************************************
>