Server Folder Sync

[Gentile]

Can I sync a folder using the latest version of Mac OS Server between two Macs?

I want to be able to take the Macbook outside the Home Network and when I return any changes that I made outside the network would changed the shared folder. Sort of like a home wifi cloud folder.

Is this possible?

 

[DennisBlah]

Hi Gentile,

I’m not sure about ‘roaming’ profiles and OSX ‘Active Directory’
But with a little script you cud simply do rsync over ssh or use cp and ditto over fileshare, whatever youd prefer

rsync -av ~/ myuser@myserver.mydomain:/path/to/myuser/

cp -r -u ~/ /path/to/myuser/

ditto ~/ /path/to/myuser/

Remember rsync and ditto will preserve ownership and metadata
Please check manual of the commands if you dont want the metadata

 

[DJLC]

So — something like this USED to be possible with Server and Open Directory. The "master copy" of your home folder is saved on a server. At login / logout, the client syncs the home folder back up to the server. However, this functionality has been deprecated for a while. Last time I saw it working well was under 10.6. We stopped using it around the time 10.7 and 10.8 came out b/c it had become increasingly unreliable.

Your best bet is probably the terminal commands from @DennisBlah above. You might also investigate using a cloud storage option like Google Drive, Dropbox, or iCloud Drive.

 

[Gentile]

I have been using Syncthing installed on both Macs and it seems to be doing everything I wanted. It is not related to Mac Server but I have been impressed how well it has worked so far. It does seem like Dropbox but without the cloud.

 

[Flint Ironstag]

It's possible but has been left to rot on the vine. Unless you have a really small amount of data to sync, and you have the mobile machine scheduled (and enforceable) for regular reboots (including time to sync and monitor for errors), Forget about it.

There's a GUI to rsync. Arrsync I think - you'll see it - pirate icon.