Syncing files between computers

[felixg123]

Hi i'm pretty new to Mac-Forums,

basically i have an iMac and Macbook Pro and i would like it if they could have the same files on both computers that keep in sync with eachother when they are on the same wireless network, is this possible?

at the moment i have it so there is a shared folder but that means that when the laptop is taken out, i don't have any of the files on it.

an example of what i want to do is: have a file that i can work on from both computers, when i take the laptop away from home i can work on the same updated file and then when i get home it updates it on the imac.

thanks for any help

 

[IvanLasston]

chronosync - Google Search

I use dropbox
Dropbox - Home - Online backup, file sync and sharing made easy.
Files are on the internet - but then you can access them from any computer (or your ipod/iphone)

You could also try rsync - commandline tool
rsync - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[McYukon]

I use dropbox
Dropbox - Home - Online backup, file sync and sharing made easy.
Files are on the internet - but then you can access them from any computer (or your ipod/iphone)

Dropbox also has a LAN Sync mode if two computers are on the same LAN network. It will bypass the need for dropbox to upload the file(s) and then re-download them on the other computer.
However, both computers still need to be connected to the internet in order for it to work.

What is LAN sync?

LAN sync is a Dropbox feature that speeds syncing dramatically when the file exists on your Local Area Network (LAN).

What does that mean exactly? Well, when you add a file to your computer's Dropbox, the file is then synced with Dropbox servers. Dropbox will then initiate the syncing process as soon as it determines a change has been made to the file. All linked computers and shared folders will then download any new version of the file. With LAN syncing, Dropbox will look for the new file on your Local Area Network first, bypassing the need to download the file from Dropbox servers, thus speeding up the syncing process considerably.

LAN sync is an extra advantage for use in locations where computers are networked together over the same router or other local area network.
Dropbox - What is LAN sync?

 

[IvanLasston]

Yeah - it does save some time but it still uploads the file to the dropbox server at some point, and it doesn't negate my comment that your files end up on the internet. So it is a warning. I feel pretty confident using dropbox but nothing is unhackable. The reason I point out that your files end up on the internet is some people may not want to put sensitive information onto dropbox. Depends on your level of distrust. Also you have to watch how and where you put your files.

For example if you use Dropbox's Photos folder and didn't read the rtf - you may not have realized that the Photos folder is global share by default so anyone can see what you put in there. Even non-dropbox users.

 

[felixg123]

cheers guys, i think chronosync is the way to go as the laptop would quite a lot of the time not have access to the internet.

does anyone have any experience with it that could help me set up what i want to do?

thanks