Synchronization

[Labyrinthine]

I'm looking for a way to synchronize folders/files between a laptop, my desktop, and an FTP server (let's say I don't have SSH access to it)
Is it possible?

What I'm looking for is when I update the files on one source they will automatically be updated on the other sources. This way I can work from my PC and laptop interchangeably and have a backup on the web in case something goes horribly wrong or I don't have either with me but need my files.

I don't know if anyone has bothered to make anything which will do this, but it seems like such a useful function that someone would have done it by now.

[jake]

Dropbox.

http://www.getdropbox.com/

[Labyrinthine]

Okay.

Are there any options which don't involve a service I have to sign up for? If that's the only way, I'm willing to do it. I'd just rather not.
Say I did have shell access.

What I'm thinking might work is some sort of FTP synchronization software. All the folders are checked at X interval and if a file is newer than a file on the server it is updated and if any files are newer than the local ones they would be downloaded.

That way I could apply the service between computers as well as between things like the oPg server and my local version, etc.

[jake]

I started looking for something like this before Crackie brought up dropbox.

http://www.ftpsynchronizer.com/
http://www.superflexible.com/

I couldn't find any good free services.  I'm still looking, however, as I don't like the idea of a third party having access to anything I need to sync across multiple computers.

[Latro]

dropbox works great.. even if you have a version stored on a third party.

I think you can use rsync for this.

[Labyrinthine]

The thing with rsync is that it is made for mirroring rather than synchronizing, as far as I understand. With rsync you have 1 place which is the 'master' copy and then everything else is made a clone of the master.

Maybe I'm out to lunch.

I like the two that Jake posted, but what do people think about

Unison

Apparently it's built for synchronization, runs across almost every platform, and is bidirectional (unlike rsync)

BTW, I found this link incredibly useful http://communitywiki.org/odd/SoftwareBazaar/SynchronizeTip

[jake]

Looks promising.  If you try it before me, let me know how it works.

[Mongoose]

Here at work they use a program called ifolder for doing this with laptop users so their files are synchronized with their desktops.

[Mongoose]

Looks like their site is ifolder.com

[mikehale]

the advantage to like dropbox or mesh, is that it syncs across multiple computers AND allows you to access it online. And drop box versions your files. it may be a service, but once you have an account, all you have to do is download the client again. wootness * 5!

[Latro]

If you setup rsync on each computer, it is bi-directional...

[Mongoose]

Haha trick them all to believe they own the master so they push it out after it gets updated. 

[b@!!ofH8]

I've been using dropbox for months - best option I've seen yet.  If there is something better - pls let us know

[Labyrinthine]

If you setup rsync on each computer, it is bi-directional...

Well yes.

I think union is supposed to do that without creating the need for a jerry rigged solution.

I'll let everyone know when I get it worked out.

[jake]

http://synkron.sourceforge.net/index.shtml

I haven't used this yet, but it looks exactly like what I'm looking for.  And it doesn't use any third party servers either.