Setup local Network

[Elinis]

Hello,

I have two devices macOS and Windows 11. I want to share a folder using "two way sync" across them. I want to know how to setup local file sharing network for them? Should I use FTP? if yes, do I need FileZilla or something similar to setup it? I have never dealt with FTP.

[John1234]

You can add an SFTP server to Windows and Mac. It's free, open source. You'll have to do your own Googling on how to add to the Mac because I'm unfamiliar with the Mac. Open SSH server is built into Windows as an optional installation through the settings program. This will let you use FFS to connect and sync files.

Here are detailed instructions on the setup for Windows. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/openssh/openssh_server_configuration

Your Mac supports Windows file sharing so you can set up a share on each computer and Windows and Mac can transfer files back and forth using the file share however it's not auto sync.

Also, check out an app called syncthing. You run it on each of your two computers and then you can share files between them and it will do automatic real time synchronization between two folders.

A third option, that will let you use FFS is to install the free openssh server software on each computer. It provides SFTP support, so you can use the FFS SFTP server option to sync folders between the two computers. openssh server for windows can be installed from within the settings app. It comes with Windows.

[Plerry]

I assume you will be running FFS on either your Mac or your Windows machine.
In that case, you only need to share your to-be-synced folder(s) on the machine on which you do not run FFS.

In my view, the simplest would be sharing via the SMB protocol.
Further info
https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/share-mac-files-with-windows-users-mchlp1657/mac
https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-easily-share-files-across-mac-windows-computers/

[John1234]

I assume you will be running FFS on either your Mac or your Windows machine.
In that case, you only need to share your to-be-synced folder(s) on the machine on which you do not run FFS.

Correct. If FFS is running on Windows, you only need to configure the Mac.

Turns out you can enable SSH Server on the Mac very easily through the menu.

How to turn on SSH server on Mac in macOS Ventura 13 or newer
Go to the Apple Menu and select System Settings.
Open the General preference settings.
Toggle the switch for Remote Login to turn on the SSH server on Mac.
Click the i button and check the box for Allow full disk access for remote users.

Here is where I got the instructions.

https://iboysoft.com/wiki/ssh-on-mac.html

And YES, you can also use SMB.
Mac supports SMB file sharing.

Share the folder you want to sync.
Then, on Windows, map a drive to the Mac SMB share.
Run FFS and choose the appropriate drive letter.

[Plerry]

> Then, on Windows, map a drive to the Mac SMB share.
Run FFS and choose the appropriate drive letter.

You can also access network drives without mapping them.
In FFS's location bar type in the network folder address you want such as
\\[NetworkComputerName]\[SharedFolderName]
or
\\[NetworkComputer-IP-address]\[SharedFolderName]

[xCSxXenon]

Don't install anything to do this, it's very easy to Google how to set up a network share on both macOS and Windows. Share the folders that you want other computers to be able to access, then either map them to a drive letter in Windows or mount them on macOS to use as if they were directly connected to the computer.