Linux

Ask something
Discussion Locked

File Attributes

0 helpful
11 replies

by abs65560

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.
I have 3 Linux servers and 2 Windows 2000 Servers. During each month the servers need to update files from one to another. This is done by a simple copy process. The files have grown so large that it takes quite awhile to accomplish. Is there anyway to have the Linux servers only copy changed files. The Windows files are no problem but I cannot find anywhere to copy only changed files from the Linux servers. Point me in the right direction

11 replies

by vdanen

I suspect there is an rsync for windows (possibly using cygwin),
but rsync is probably your best bet. This will copy only changed
files and new files (and you can have it delete files that have
been removed). http://rsync.samba.org/ is the URL. I know that
people have written frontends for rsync for OS X, and I suspect
the same may be said for Windows if you do some hunting (the
rsync pages just have source code for download).

If nothing else, you'll be able to sync between linux machines in
this way; short of an rsync version for windows I'm not aware of
any other cross-platform alternatives you can try.

by apotheon

Based on what I know if it, I'd say that rsync is probably a very good choice for this purpose.

It might help if we knew what distribution of Linux was being used, though, and how the Linux and Windows machines are networked to each other.

by vdanen

I don't think it really matters what Linux distro he's using...
rsync is rsync is rsync, regardless of the distro. From his
posting, I'd suspect that the Windows and Linux machines are on
the same LAN, which make something like rsync work well. Even
if they aren't, using cygwin, one could use rsync and openssh on
windows machine securely to copy files across the internet as
you could using two Linux machines likewise separated.

The tools are the same, the specifics of the OS (or even location)
is immaterial unless you're unable or unwilling to use rsync over
ssh as a solution.

by abs65560

Thanks for the info. I did look and may have found a way to sync. I appreciate the help. Will not get to try till later but will let you know.

by jon

Unison, "bidrectional rsync-like behaviour, with native windows binary." (quoting a friend). I haven't tried it myself, having no need for such a tool, but said friend stumbled across it while trying to solve the very same Win-to-Linux file synch problem. The website:

http://www.cis.upenn.edu/~bcpierce/unison/

by abs65560

Tried the link and this is great. Does exactly what I needed it to do. Thank you very much.

by abs65560

Thank you I believe that you are right about the version that it doesn't matter. I am working on the rsync now as can get to it. Thanks again

by apotheon

I didn't mean to suggest that rsync works differently between distros, but rather that depending on what distro is being used the tools that are part of a default install will vary, and how one gets at them will differ, if a GUI is used. Also, if advice on how to get a given tool is needed, the package management scheme used by the distro in question comes into play.

You're right, though, that rsync is probably the best option.

This discussion is closed to new replies.