Multiple machine / single environment / no third parties cloud

[mumen2]

Hello (this text is translated from French)

For my backup strategy, I use Resilio Sync in duet with FFS. It is very effective, I propose it here for those who meet the concern of the cloud.

I first use Resilio Sync to solve multiple machine problems for a single environment. I have a home office computer for development and leisure; a laptop for on-site development and a lightweight travel laptop. On all three machines I have exactly the same content with regard to my folders: Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Contacts, Administration, etc.. It is enough to synchronize everything if the machines are switched on and connected to the network: Ethernet, Wifi or Internet. Nothing prevents me from having another computer as a security server permanently running on the Net and functioning as a cloud.

The meeting of Resilio and FFS led me to a long reflection which ends today with the following strategy:

For my backups, I created some FFS scripts stored in the synchronized "\Administration\Backups" folder and are available on all machines.

The "zero" script is the one of the application parameters generally found in the \AppData\Roaming folder (FileZilla, Notepad++, Microsoft\Templates, Microsoft\UProof, GoogleEarth, FreeFileSync, Resilio, etc.). This script memorizes the parameters in a synchronized folder, it is important, by specifying the name of the computer in its path "\Administration\Backups\Parameter\PC1". Each line of this script is filtered if necessary (e.g.: only myplaces.kml for GoogleEarth) to recover only the useful (templates, settings, xml definitions, plugins installed, work in progress, etc.). This script must be run on each machine, when they were used, the synchronization making them available everywhere.

Script '1' is FTP. I save my complete sites in the synchronized "\Administration\Sites" folder. This script can be run on any of the three machines.

The script'2' is the heart of the subject: it is the Current. Since the folders are synchronized, the script can be run from all three machines. This script makes a local copy of the synchronized folders on a non-removable disk. Having a local backup is very convenient. I can take risks and quickly reverse the negative consequences, FFS is very strong for that. It is thanks to this that the problems at the beginning of Resilio were never serious: I save, I synchronize, I compare: there should be no difference. More, the local backup makes it possible to dissociate the backup itself from the collection of files. This collection depends on the size of the backup media.

The other scripts are those of the backup itself. I have two 64GB USB sticks that don't leave me, identical, but named differently. The script is in one line, without filter: copy the local backup folder containing the essential (prepared during collection) to the key. Both scripts are identical, except for the drive name [K64_1] and [K64_2]. Another backup is done on a 500GB hard drive, also named [WD500GB], copying everything I have to save, including my archives and other secondary things.

Since any backup is done exclusively from the local copy, there can be no interaction with the current work or even the synchronization.

I actually have two redundant backup systems running on three computers. My living data is present in up to 9 locations (3 computers, 3 local copies, 2 USB, 1HDD). For a mobile, self-employed worker, it's just royal.

I add that for mails I use Thunderbird whose local folder is synchronized (moved from \Roaming to \Documents). This makes in theory that I can open Thunderbird on one of my three machines and find all my local folders, filters, etc. The supposed condition being of course not to open Thunderbird on two machines at once, which has no interest in my case.

Resilio also helps me synchronize my Android phone: the photos arrive on a computer and are synchronized, the music too but not backuped on the Current, and everything I need enters the backup cycle.

Last point, the aim I had in mind, if synchronized, my three machines generate exactly the same backup. You know how easy it is to check with FFS.

Translated with DeepL/Translator