Dear all
I have a problem when I try to backup my internal disks to a Synology NAS. I am using the mirror sync method. I select the drive to backup, then select the folder on my NAS for the destination. Add some filters, etc. Then when I click Synchronise, the first backup works fine.
If I then close and reopen FreeFileSync, and rerun this same backup, it copies the ENTIRE DISC all over again, even though the files at the destination are the same (using file time and size). Worse, if I have versioning enabled, it will of course copy the entire disc into the versioning folder as well. I have checked and checked my settings but I cannot see anything wrong. I am no stranger to backup software. I have been using FFS for a couple of years and have never had this problem before. Choosing database/no database - no difference.
I DO NOT have this issue if the backup destination is another local drive. The issue must have something to do with choosing a NAS as the destination. Firewall off/on makes no difference
I am using FFS 13.7. I tried 14.3 and got the same problem. Both are donation editions. I use Linux Mint 21.3.
Thank you.
Mirroring to NAS - files copied even when already at destination
- Posts: 2
- Joined: 22 Jun 2025
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- Posts: 2717
- Joined: 22 Aug 2012
If you open your sync in the FFS GUI, and only run the Compare (not the Sync), FFS will show the Compare results and the proposed sync actions.
If you hoover your mouse over the proposed sync action (mid between the left and right listing of a file), FFS will show why it intends to sync any given file.
Most likely, the date of the files on your NAS differ from the date on your internal disk.
This may be caused e.g. by a virus scanner accessing your NAS files or by the protocol you use to access your NAS. E.g. (S)FTP normally does not preserve file dates and applies the timestamp of copying the file over.
If you hoover your mouse over the proposed sync action (mid between the left and right listing of a file), FFS will show why it intends to sync any given file.
Most likely, the date of the files on your NAS differ from the date on your internal disk.
This may be caused e.g. by a virus scanner accessing your NAS files or by the protocol you use to access your NAS. E.g. (S)FTP normally does not preserve file dates and applies the timestamp of copying the file over.
- Posts: 2
- Joined: 22 Jun 2025
Thanks, Plerry. As with so many things in Linux especially, it came down to a question of permissions. The NAS was incorrectly mounted, so that root was owner, not me. As soon as I changed that, everything worked again.