Syncing between multiple computers

Discuss new features and functions
Posts: 1
Joined: 6 Jan 2023

jguse

I'm trying to understand if/whether FreeFileSync can handle (and/or how it should be set up) to bi-directionally sync a folder tree between a set of computers. So let's say I have 4 computers (and assume "Username" is a common AD username, so they all have access):

\\Computer1\C$\Users\Username\Documents\FilesToSync
\\Computer2\C$\Users\Username\Documents\FilesToSync
\\Computer3\C$\Users\Username\Documents\FilesToSync
\\Computer4\C$\Users\Username\Documents\FilesToSync

Some computers may be off at any given time. Should (and can) I set up all 12 possible pairwise syncs:

On Computer 1:
C:\Users\Username\Documents\FilesToSync <==> \\Computer2\C$\Users\Username\Documents\FilesToSync
C:\Users\Username\Documents\FilesToSync <==> \\Computer3\C$\Users\Username\Documents\FilesToSync
C:\Users\Username\Documents\FilesToSync <==> \\Computer4\C$\Users\Username\Documents\FilesToSync

On Computer 2:
C:\Users\Username\Documents\FilesToSync <==> \\Computer1\C$\Users\Username\Documents\FilesToSync
C:\Users\Username\Documents\FilesToSync <==> \\Computer3\C$\Users\Username\Documents\FilesToSync
C:\Users\Username\Documents\FilesToSync <==> \\Computer4\C$\Users\Username\Documents\FilesToSync

On Computer 3:
C:\Users\Username\Documents\FilesToSync <==> \\Computer1\C$\Users\Username\Documents\FilesToSync
C:\Users\Username\Documents\FilesToSync <==> \\Computer2\C$\Users\Username\Documents\FilesToSync
C:\Users\Username\Documents\FilesToSync <==> \\Computer4\C$\Users\Username\Documents\FilesToSync

On Computer 4:
C:\Users\Username\Documents\FilesToSync <==> \\Computer1\C$\Users\Username\Documents\FilesToSync
C:\Users\Username\Documents\FilesToSync <==> \\Computer2\C$\Users\Username\Documents\FilesToSync
C:\Users\Username\Documents\FilesToSync <==> \\Computer3\C$\Users\Username\Documents\FilesToSync

Will this cause concurrency problems since a given pair may try to sync with each other at the same time? Or is there better/required/more way to establish these synchronization semantics?
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Posts: 3551
Joined: 11 Jun 2019

xCSxXenon

FFS locks directories during a sync so other FFS sessions can't use them at the same time
Posts: 8
Joined: 11 Apr 2018

mumen2

FFS is not designed for this kind of tasks, use Syncthing or Resilio Sync to synchronize your computers. All you need is for the computers to be switched on and connected together for what you want to be done without intervention, on any number of computers and even across the internet. On the other hand, continue to use FFS for backups, these two approaches are definitely complementary and very useful.
User avatar
Posts: 3551
Joined: 11 Jun 2019

xCSxXenon

FFS would work fine for this
Posts: 2
Joined: 5 Feb 2024

lfm

Hi, did anyone get this to work?
When executing the sync, 2 computers are fine. On computer 3, I'm getting
"Cannot delete file:... symc.ffs_db"
ERROR_ACCESS_DENIED: Access is denied [DeleteFile].
Posts: 2
Joined: 5 Feb 2024

lfm

On another try, on computers 2 and 3, I'm getting:
LIBSSH2_ERROR_SFTP_PROTOCOL: SFTP Protocol Error - LIBSSH_FX_PERMISSION_DENIED [libssh2_sftp_unlink]
Posts: 3
Joined: 9 Feb 2024

jrecho

I have the same problem
Cannot delete file "E:\Inetpub\xxxx\sync.ffs_db".