File synchronization: Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 23:20, 12 December 2009
This article needs additional citations for verification. (July 2009) |
File synchronization (or 'syncing') in computing is the process of making sure that files in two or more locations are updated through certain rules.[citation needed]
In one-way synchronization, also called mirroring, updates files are copied only from a 'source' location to a 'target' location, or locations, but no files are copied back to the source location. In two-way sync, updated files are copied in both directions, usually with the purpose of keeping the two locations identical to each other. The term synchronization is used in this article to mean exclusively two-way file synchronization.[citation needed]
File synchronization is commonly used for home backups on external hard drives or updating for transport on USB flash drives. The automatic process prevents copying already identical files and thus can save considerable time from a manual copy, also being faster and less error prone.[1] However this suffers from the limitation that the synchronized files have to physically fit in the portable drive. Synchronization software that only keeps a list of files and the changed files circumvents this problem (e.g. the "snapshot" feature in Beyond Compare or the "package" feature in Synchronize It!). It is particularly useful for mobile workers, or others that work on multiple computers. It is possible to synchronize multiple locations by synchronizing them a pair at a time.
Common features
- Encryption for security, particularly when synchronizing across the Internet.
- Compressing any data sent across a network, this requires a server.
- Conflict detection where a file has been modified on both sources, as opposed to where it has only been modified on one. No conflict detection can lead to overwriting copies of the file with the most recent version causing data loss. For conflict detection, the synchronization software needs to keep a database of the synchronized files. Distributed conflict detection can be achieved by version vectors.
- Specific support for using an intermediate storage device, such as a removable flash disc, to synchronize two machines. Although most synchronizing programs can be used in this way, providing specific support for this can reduce the amount of data stored on the device.
- The ability to preview any changes before they are made.
- The ability to view differences in individual files.
Software
It has been suggested that this article should be split into a new article titled File synchronization software. (discuss) (November 2009) |
This is a list of notable file synchronization software. See also build in file synchronization functionality in Windows XP[1].
Open source
A comparison of free and open source file synchronization software.
Name | Protocol | Programming Language | Platforms | License | Version | Conflict detection |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Git-sync | file system | Bash, C | Linux, Unix, Mac OS X | BSD | [12-Nov-2009] | Yes |
Conduit (generic framework) | Many | Python | Linux, Unix | GPL | ||
DirSync Pro | file system | Java | Windows, Linux, Mac OS X | GPL | 1.02 [22-Feb-2009] | No |
JFileSync | file system | Java | Windows, Linux, OS X, other Unix | GPL | 2.2 [20-Jul-2007] | Yes |
Replicator | file system | Basic | Windows | 3.5.6 [19-Nov-2008] | ||
Unison | similar to rsync; uses SSH (or file system) as transport | OCaml | Windows, Linux, OS X, other Unix | GPL | 2.27.57 [20-Jan-2008] | Yes (centralized database) |
FreeFileSync | file system | C++ | Windows, Linux | GPL | v3.1 [26-Oct-2009] | Yes |
Toucan Backup [2] | file system | C++ | Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7, Wine | GPL | 2009-07-05 [3] | No |
Commercial
A comparison of proprietary software released as commercial.
Name | Windows | Mac | Linux | Other OS | Open source | Online backup service | Freeware version | Paid version | Conflict detection |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Allway Sync | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
BestSync | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Dmailer Sync | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Dropbox | Yes | Yes | Yes | iPhone | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
File SyncForce | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Get Backup | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | |
GoodSync | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Handy Backup | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | |
PowerFolder | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Partial | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Robocopy | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes [Windows 2003] | No |
SpiderOak | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Partial | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
SugarSync | Yes | Yes | No | Android, iPhone, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
SuperFlexible | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
SyncBack | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Synchronize It! | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
SyncMate | Yes | Yes | No | Windows Mobile, Nokia series 40, PSP | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Syncplicity | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Tarylynn | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Ubuntu One | No | No | Yes | No | Partial | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
ZumoDrive | Yes | Yes | Yes | iPhone | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Freeware
This is a list of proprietary software released as freeware or gratis.
Name | OS | Vendor | Comments |
---|---|---|---|
Microsoft ActiveSync | Windows | Microsoft | syncs mobile devices |
Windows Mobile Device Center | Windows | Microsoft | syncs mobile devices. Successor to Microsoft ActiveSync |
Gbridge | Windows | Gbridge LLC | Sync folders, Remote desktop, Live web browsing, etc. |
Microsoft Sync Framework | Windows | syncs files, data and services. A framework, not a tool. | |
Microsoft SyncToy | Windows | ||
Windows Live Sync | Windows, OSX | Microsoft | Previously Microsoft FolderShare |
TreeComp | Windows | Lennert Ploeger | Built-in ftp, zip, rar support. |
See also
- Data synchronization
- File comparison
- Mirroring
- Backup software
- List of backup software
- Remote backup service
- Shared file access
References
- Kerner, Sean (2008-02-13). "Get In Sync with File Syncing Software". Tom's Guide. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
- Kerner, Sean (2008-02-27). "Syncing Software Redux: More Options". Tom's Guide. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
- ^ A. Tridgell (February 1999). "Efficient algorithms for sorting and synchronization" (PDF). PhD thesis. The Australian National University.
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(help) - ^ Ilascu, Ionut (2008-05-24). "Windows software reviews; Toucan Sync, Backup and Encrypt". Softpedia.
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