Re: Directory synchronization packages
On Fri, 2011-02-11 at 01:14 -0500, John A. Sullivan III wrote:
> On Thu, 2011-02-10 at 23:26 -0500, John A. Sullivan III wrote:
> > On Wed, 2011-01-12 at 10:52 -0500, John A. Sullivan III wrote:
> > > On Wed, 2011-01-12 at 09:57 -0500, Gilbert Sullivan wrote:
> > > > On 01/11/2011 06:31 PM, John A. Sullivan III wrote:
> > > > > On Tue, 2011-01-11 at 17:37 -0500, John A. Sullivan III wrote:
> > > > >> Hello, all. We are looking for a Lenny/Squeeze package to synchronize
> > > > >> directories between our physical desktops and our X2Go (www.x2go.org) /
> > > > >> Trinity (KDE3 - trinity.pearsoncomputing.net) based virtual desktops via
> > > > >> sshfs and have had difficulty finding an acceptable package that is
> > > > >> friendly for all levels of users to use within a GUI. Any suggestions?
> > > > >>
> > > > >> We noticed that there is a package for unison-gtk but have some
> > > > >> reservations. As powerful as unison is, it is no longer maintained.
> > > > >> The GUI seemed intuitive to a developer but not to an average office
> > > > >> user. There was no way to browse hidden directories other than entering
> > > > >> them by hand. So our search began especially for something that would
> > > > >> work well on KDE3/Trinity.
> > > >
> > > > Finding software to synchronize desktops that is powerful enough and
> > > > flexible enough to get synchronization done exactly the way you need it
> > > > while still allowing non-techies to use it is a real challenge.
> > > > Unison-gtk is the only (nearly) satisfactory FOSS solution I've found so
> > > > far. It has required considerable effort to train some of my more
> > > > hapless users to keep it from becoming a weapon of mass data destruction
> > > > in their hands.
> > > LOL
> > > >
> > > > As I understand it, unison-gtk is still being maintained but isn't being
> > > > developed. I think its maintainers still act on critical bugs and
> > > > security issues (if any are being reported) or it wouldn't still be in
> > > > the Squeeze repos.
> > > Yes - I should have been more specific. That is correct.
> > > >
> > > > <snip>>> We looked at Krusader and were very impressed but it appears to be a
> > > > >> simple copy rather than an rsync style differential block
> > > > >> synchronization.
> > > I took another look at Krusader. It is SO impressive but, we traced the
> > > packets during synchronization just hoping against hope and it is indeed
> > > a straight file transfer - no differentials. Really disappointed
> > > although I could see Krusader being overwhelming to some users.
> > > > >>
> > > > >> We look at Komparator but it is KDE4 based, has a UI that seems
> > > > >> overwhelming to an average office user, and seems more oriented toward
> > > > >> search and compare than sync.
> > > >
> > > > <snip>>>
> > > > >> We are considering DirSyncPro. Again, there is no Debian package. It
> > > > >> is Java based which concerns us regarding memory and CPU consumption
> > > > >> when we are trying to squeeze as many virtual desktops onto a host as
> > > > >> possible. It does seem to be fairly full featured and actively
> > > > >> developed. Our packet traces show it does appear to do block level
> > > > >> synchronization.
> > > > >>
> > > >
> > > > I'm glad you reported this. I'm going to start looking at it as my
> > > > alternative. I wonder if there will be any effort to get it into the
> > > > Debian repos. I'm trying to stick exclusively with the office
> > > > repositories these days.
> > > Same with us. We've got it set up now and released for testing. We'll
> > > see what the feedback is.
> > > >
> > > <snip>
> > We've hit some serious bugs with DirSyncPro. We've reported them to
> > their bug tracker. We reported several minor ones early on and the
> > developer was extremely responsive; they were all fixed in short order.
> > The last two serious ones (major features almost completely broken) have
> > drawn stunning silence. Of course, it could be someone had the nerve to
> > go on vacation or something :)
> >
> > However, in case those bugs are not fixed quickly, has anyone had any
> > luck finding an alternative to Unison or at least a more user friendly
> > front end? Thanks - John
> I scoured the Internet again without a lot of success. There is csync
> but it seems young and does not seem to use rsync like differentials.
> Thee is git-sync but it is a command line script and setting up a
> complete git repository seems a little overkill for our user needs.
>
> Persy looked rather interesting although it also uses git. However, the
> directories need to be empty when one first synchronizes. Again, great
> for developers synching branches but not really end user friendly.
>
> It looks like drsync (http://hacks.dlux.hu/drsync/) is what we'd want
> but it is still a command line tool. Does anyone know of a GUI front
> end to drsync? Thanks - John
>
>
I should mention that the DirSyncPro dev has started responding with his
usual quick attention. I've sent a pile of logs and test results and
hope to have good news soon - John
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