Ask HN: Utility for syncing a folder across two devices? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Utility for syncing a folder across two devices?

5 points_bxg19 comments

I basically want to make my own Dropbox, but with my own drive (probably on a Raspberry Pi) as the server. Is there an existing daemon that will just keep a pair of folders on different computers in sync? I know there are things like SMB, but that doesn't leave you a local copy when you go offline.

View on HN

Syncthing: https://syncthing.net/

Agreed with syncthing. I replaced Dropbox on my devices, but it's not as simple to set up, for sure. But it works, when you get it up.

this. it looks like it works great but needs a really easy way to set it up. and the docs are really lacking. (is there a way to add a device from the command line without opening the web server port?).

> is there a way to add a device from the command line without opening the web server port?

Not directly. Devices and folders are contained in the config.xml file. If you don't want to use the web UI, you can just edit the config.xml file and then restart Syncthing.

I'm using Syncthing to sync my phone photos to my computers and Joplin notes between all my devices.

The biggest downsides for me: + My desktop is often rebooted in to windows (from linux) so I lose my always-on computer with the most up-to-date copies of everything and highest bandwidth internet connection. I'm thinking of putting my Pi4 to work as a dedicated server in case something happens to my cell phone or laptop at just the wrong time. But then it would still be possible for the house to burn down with all my devices in it, taking the precious data with it.

+ I have to use extra software to start Syncthing when the phone is restarted on android.

Syncthing is incredible! You just have a bit more work to do as a user.

Unison: https://www.cis.upenn.edu/~bcpierce/unison/

Resilio Sync: https://www.resilio.com/individuals/

lsyncd: https://axkibe.github.io/lsyncd/

rsync

Reply on news.ycombinator.com