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Best setup for working with same files on desktop and MacBook ( NAS, Cloud, sync software )

al404

al404

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Apr 24, 2011
541
35
Novara, Italy
At some point in last few years I took the android route for phone and tablet thinking I would have more choices and freedom but it ended up with a samsung device after an other, in the messy Samsung and Google word made of trial and errors.

Something I really hate is to use some service and discover at some point that is going discontinued or that is impossible to migrate out of it.

I decided was time to get back to Apple ecosystem with an iPad and iPhone. I actually have an iPhone 6 waiting to see what is coming in few mounths.

Since I work as a freelance web developer I can ideally work from every where I like, in real life I mainly work from my iMac because I'm too used to work with 2 monitor and get back to 1 it really slows me down and internet connection persistency is really important for my work.

But I would also like to gradually move my work flow so I would be less tight to the PC I'm working on.

Actually I use MAMP PRO as my web server, I ditch native apache / PHP / MySQL because at any macOS update it broke up.

I have a synology NAS that I mostly use to store data but has also an apache and Maria db running on and occasionally use to share work with clients but it has a major drawback, I can't set third level domains that I usually use for develop site, like dev.mywebsite.com

Synology has good remote apps at list on Android did not try them yet on iOS

I need to be able to use 3 device: desktop for regular working, MacBook Pro for long term out of office work like a couple of week in a different location, and something very light and compact to use when I' m traveling for few days like an iPad Pro or a MacBook.

The third device is the real issu since I already have iMac and MacBook Pro but the MacBook is really expensive for what it offers and with iPad Pro I'm not sure if I can handle all my task ( no desktop so kind of skerries me )

I guess I have 2 roads I can take:
- find a way to sync file over devices
- move my MAMP to a web server or to the NAS

The sync road has the main issue to find a way to easily sync files between devices and keep them in sync
The remote route could it be expensive and it need a good and stable internet connection
 
Kes.Siebring said:
Resilio Sync
or
OwnCloud
Click to expand...
+1 on ownCloud. I too work at home and remotely with multiple devices. I set up an ownCloud server (in a virtual machine) running out of my home. It's free... I have a MBP and two iMacs all syncing files from ownCloud. I can start my day at home, travel across the country and pick up right where I left off without carrying any equipment.
[doublepost=1502013769][/doublepost]
Kes.Siebring said:
Resilio Sync
or
OwnCloud
Click to expand...
+1 on ownCloud. I too work at home and remotely with multiple devices. I set up an ownCloud server (in a virtual machine) running out of my home. It's free... I have a MBP and two iMacs all syncing files from ownCloud. I can start my day at home, travel across the country and pick up right where I left off without carrying any equipment.
 
can they mess file and folders permissions?
[doublepost=1502021839][/doublepost]as far as I understood the are both like dropbox, I have a built in service like this on my NAS
https://www.synology.com/en-global/dsm/feature/cloud_sync

never try to see if it mess up file permissions or encoding

What you suggesting is to move all the folder that I use for work inside the synked folder
the only issue I can think off are MySQL db not sure if I can sync them too
 
al404 said:
can they mess file and folders permissions?
[doublepost=1502021839][/doublepost]as far as I understood the are both like dropbox, I have a built in service like this on my NAS
https://www.synology.com/en-global/dsm/feature/cloud_sync

never try to see if it mess up file permissions or encoding

What you suggesting is to move all the folder that I use for work inside the synked folder
the only issue I can think off are MySQL db not sure if I can sync them too
Click to expand...

Resilio is not like Dropbox.
OwnCloud is "like" Dropbox, google drive etc.

I use resilio to sync some documents, Lightroom catalog.
 
if u'r using NAS and Mac, be careful as well... Since Apple does not fully support SAMBA 100% they can lead to un-editable files... (direct editing).. but the solution is edit before u place them on the NAS. Apple will naturally blame the manufacture of the NAS, but it works 100% in Windows editing directly, so it's Apple's issue. Probably not a huge problem, but something to keep it mind... You'll only find this out when u try.

I've has issues with trying to edit iTunes content directly stored on QNAP, any changes made directly were not preserved... so i edit them on AFP enabled Mac,,, then copyed them to NAS solved that problem
 
Tech198 said:
if u'r using NAS and Mac, be careful as well... Since Apple does not fully support SAMBA 100% they can lead to un-editable files... (direct editing).. but the solution is edit before u place them on the NAS. Apple will naturally blame the manufacture of the NAS, but it works 100% in Windows editing directly, so it's Apple's issue. Probably not a huge problem, but something to keep it mind... You'll only find this out when u try.

I've has issues with trying to edit iTunes content directly stored on QNAP, any changes made directly were not preserved... so i edit them on AFP enabled Mac,,, then copyed them to NAS solved that problem
Click to expand...

You don't have to use SAMBA (i.e. Windows file sharing) you can also use NFS and AppleShare on most NAS's. If you have no Windows machines at all then use NFS, assuming you only want to edit the files while at home. If you are wanting to edit files while on the move then use a cloud service separate to your NAS and use your NAS as a local backup. For example I use various cloud services for my shared file storage and then take a backup of everything on my PC and back it up to a NAS. I could equally use TimeMachine to backup a Mac to the NAS.
 
I use Goodsync (macOS app) to sync relevant folders between an iMac and Macbook on the same network. I could add a third Mac if necessary.
The Macbook is great for business trips and I would recommend it instead of an iPad. It runs all the software that I use on the iMac.
Having said that I usually also take an iPad with me for reading and staying connected, using an Apple SIM and Gigsky account. The Macbook will hotspot to the iPad, which is probably more secure than hotel wifi.
 
Once I find the right service to keep my files in sync I was wondering if have any way to make the secure like encrypt and the decrypt after sync

Is Maybe possible via filevault?
 
I've not encrypted mine, but perhaps I should. Most of the major players have some form of encryption (except OneDrive), but if you want to take things further perhaps use an Amazon S3 bucket and encrypt that. Then use S3 Explorer from Cloud Berry
 
ok aster finding out that is possible to encrypt folder on my NAS I also discovered that they are decrypted buy gas itself when it mounts the folders, basically if I need the to work on the are decrypted

I thought the description was on client side connected

Would be a bad idea to keep all my files in a NAS folder but inside an encrypted DMG?
I guess my Mac would see the dmg once mounted as an external disk

I'm not also sure if can cause some data los working this way
 
I use Qsync a QNAP App that I installed on each of the devices I want to sync. It creates a folder on each Mac. Anything I add to the folder is synced between devices, and a copy of the folder is stored on the NAS. It also syncs remotely anytime I connect to the internet while in the field.

I recently set up a Dropbox account for my wife, and found their set up works in a similar way as the QNAP App. Seems to work pretty well.

Your needs sound a little more complex. Just thought I'd share my experience.
 
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Kes.Siebring said:
Resilio has encryption options.
Click to expand...

I have about 70Gb and a lot of files to sync, I find out that Synology Cloud Station if pretty slow on this job, it took about 72h to make the first sync. After the first index I should not have problems, but is still a lot of time.

Since resilio offer an app for synology has I was wondering if it would be faster.

How many GB do you sync and how long did it take for your first sync?
 
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