Cannot write file "/sync.ffs_lock"

Posts: 3 · elektrobank 12 Dec 2020, 18:32

I have been using FFS for years with no problems. Suddenly I'm getting this error on every computer, even my machine running High Sierra that doesn't require disk access. One is running Big Sur, but has every access granted. I see this issue posted around but none of the fixes work. How can I fix this?

Cannot set directory locks for the following folders:

Cannot write file "/sync.ffs_lock".
EACCES: Permission denied [open]

Posts: 3611 · xCSxXenon 12 Feb 2021, 19:07

Any change?

Posts: 3 · elektrobank 12 Feb 2021, 19:45

Nope, happens on all my Macs, had to switch to another software

Posts: 7052 · Zenju 12 Feb 2021, 20:08

This is a warning only and can be ignored.

Posts: 3 · elektrobank 12 Feb 2021, 20:10

If you ignore it no files get copied.

Posts: 2288 · Plerry 12 Feb 2021, 20:21

If you run a left-to-right Mirror or Update sync, the message/warning
Cannot write file "/sync.ffs_lock".
EACCES: Permission denied [open]
is no problem, as long as said file can not be written to the left-side (source) location.
As long as there is write access to the right location, the sync can and will still run.

However, if the the message/warning concerns the right-side location, your sync will obviously fail, as no file that would need to be copied left-to-right can be written there, because of the lack of write access (Permission Denied) there.

Posts: 12 · sros 20 Jul 2023, 17:24

I've been using ff sync for years and just now got this error. Then it wants to write to a 'hard drive name '2'' location. what's up with this?

Posts: 3611 · xCSxXenon 20 Jul 2023, 17:36

FFS writes that file to prevent other FFS sessions from running on the same location at the same time. The error means that FFS does not have permission to write it. That could be caused by many things

Posts: 12 · sros 20 Jul 2023, 17:43

xCSxXenon, what should i do??

Posts: 12 · sros 20 Jul 2023, 17:44

I tried running ffsync on a different group of drives and there was no problem.

Posts: 3611 · xCSxXenon 20 Jul 2023, 18:46

Is it trying to write that file to the root of your drive?
"/sync.ffs_lock" is root, but what locations are you trying to sync?

Posts: 12 · sros 20 Jul 2023, 20:30

i was trying to sync two external hard drives.

Posts: 3611 · xCSxXenon 20 Jul 2023, 20:34

Screenshot of your FFS window would be nice

Posts: 12 · sros 20 Jul 2023, 20:37

I restarted everything and when I went to compare the drives again it said they were sync'd so I called it a day. Thanks anyway!