Syncing Files and Folders

Syncing Files Between a Local Computer and ExaVault

File syncing allows you to keep copies of files stored on a remote server in synch with copies of the same files stored on a local computer. In most cases, you will need to manually start your FTP client to initiate the synchronization process. Below, we have put together examples of how to synchronize with a few of the most popular FTP clients.

How to Synchronize with FileZilla and Windows

FileZilla allows you to synchronize files and folders between a remote server and a local computer.

1.Connect to your FTP with FileZilla.

2. Click the “Quick Connect” button to log in to the remote server. Wait a few seconds while FileZilla negotiates login credentials and establishes a connection with the server. FileZilla then displays the folders in the root directory server. Double-click the directory name that contains the files and folders.

3. Scroll down to the folder you want to synchronize with your computer. Note the name of the folder, then click “Disconnect” on the toolbar and close FileZilla.

4. Open Windows Explorer, then double-click the “C:\” drive icon. Click the “New Folder” button in the Windows Explorer window, then rename the folder so that it exactly matches the folder you want to synchronize on the server. Close the Windows Explorer window.

5. Launch FileZilla again. Click “File” and “Site Manager,” then select your FTP server from the list. Click the “Advanced” tab in the Site Manager window, then click the “Browse” button next to the “Default Local Directory” field. Navigate to the new folder you created in Windows Explorer, then click “Open.”

6. Ensure that the folder name in the “Default Remote Directory” field matches the one in the “Default Local Directory” field exactly. Since you closed the FileZilla application while browsing the folder you want to synchronize on the server, the default folder names should match. However, if the folder names do not match, just type the folder name from the “Default Local Directory” field (without the “C:\”) into the “Default Remote Directory” field.

7. Click and enable the “Use Synchronized Browsing” option on the Advance tab, then click the “Connect” button. After you connect and establish an FTP session with the server, FileZilla prompts you to synchronize the folders. Click the “Yes” button to download files from the server to the new folder you created on the hard drive of your local computer. After you perform the initial synchronization of the folders, FileZilla scans for changes every time you reconnect to the FTP server. If new files exist in either folder – local or remote – the application prompts you to synchronize the directories. If you click “Yes,” FileZilla uploads or downloads files to synchronize the folders as needed.

How to Synchronize with WinSCP

You can synchronize files on an S/FTP server with WinSCP.

1. Once you are connected to your account on an FTP/SFTP server, you will see the contents of the default remote directory (typically the home directory of your account) on the remote file panel.

2. To synchronize, go to Commands > Synchronize (in the main menu). The Synchronize dialog will appear, where you can select a synchronization mode and configure options. If you are using the Explorer interface you may now select the local directory which you want to synchronize. You may also want to select:

• Synchronization direction. Select Local to apply changes in the remote directory to the local directory. Select Remote to apply changes in the local directory to the remote directory. Select Both to synchronize local and remote directories reciprocally.
• Synchronization Mode. Typically you want to use the default Synchronize files mode. But you may also want to synchronize files unconditionally with Mirror files mode.

3. To automate synchronization use scripting command synchronize or .NET assembly method Session.SynchronizeDirectories.

4. Press OK to start synchronization.

WinSCP will collect a list of the differences between the directories. Then you will be presented with the synchronization checklist, where you can review synchronization actions. Press OK to apply them.

How to Synchronize with Cyberduck

The synchronizing feature allows you to select two folders, one in your remote site and one in your local site, to mirror each other. Typically, this is used to back up local files or upload files in real-time. Any updates made to the selected folder will automatically happen in the synchronizing folder.

After you connect to an FTP server, you can start using the synchronizing feature:

1. Select a folder in your remote directory (ExaVault account) that you want to mirror your local folder.

2. Click “File” located at the top of Cyberduck and select “Synchronize”.

3. Browse your local directory for the folder you want to have mirrored and select choose.

4. After a certain delay, a new window will open and allow you to select the synchronization options.

How to Synchronize with SmartFTP

How to connect and transfer files with SmartFTP you can read here. Two synchronization methods are supported in SmartFTP:

• One Way Synchronization (Default)

All files/folders from the source will be transferred to the destination. No files will be deleted on the destination.

• One Way Synchronization with Delete

All files/folders from the source will be transferred to the destination. Files/folders in the destination which do not exist in the source will be deleted (on the destination).

Follow these steps to synchronize the content of a local folder with the content of a remote folder.

Settings:

1. Go to the Favorite Properties.

2. Go to the Transfer - File Exists dialog.

3. In the File Exist dialog under File Exist Queue you can enable the Integrity Check by checking the option “File exist action based on the comparison between hash values” or edit the File Exist Rules for the selected Favorite.

4. If the Integrity Check is left unchecked, SmartFTP will use the default File Exist Rules for the synchronization.

5. From the Favorite Properties dialog menu (on the left side), under the Transfer option select Integrity. Check that the Transfer Integrity option is enabled. The Transfer Integrity is enabled by default as specified on the Default Favorite Settings.

6. Click on the OK button to save the changes.

Queue Transfer:

1. Stop the Transfer Queue.

2. Connect to the server by opening a new remote browser.

3. Open a Local Browser. Menu: File - Local browser.

4. Select the folder in the local folder which you want to synchronize with the remote folder.

5. Drag and drop the folder from the Local Browser to the folder in the Remote Browser.

6. A new transfer will be added to the Transfer Queue.

7. To change the synchronization method right-click the transfer in the Transfer Queue.

8. Select Properties from the context menu

9.Change the Synchronization method.

10. Start the Transfer Queue.

Tip: You can use the Schedule feature in the queue item properties for recurring synchronizations.

In order to change the synchronization method:

1. Stop the Transfer Queue.

2. Right-click the transfer in the Transfer Queue.

3. Select Properties from the context menu.

4. The Properties dialog opens.

5. Change the Synchronization method.

How to Synchronize with Transmit

Synchronization is a quick, fully automated method of bringing a folder up to date with the contents of another folder. In Transmit 5, Synchronization is supported between any combination of two local and remote folders.

To begin a sync operation:

1. Connect to your FTP server in Transmit.

2. Make sure Transmit is displaying one local and one remote file browser in each single window.

3. In both browsers, navigate to the folders you wish to sync.

4. Click the Synchronize icon beside the transfer icon - See screenshot.

5. On the sync sheet click either the left arrow or right arrow to determine the direction of the sync. The arrow indicates which direction transfers will flow between your computer (represented by the Mac icon) and the server (represented by the globe icon).

6. Choose a file comparison method, either Modification Date or File Size.

7. Choose from the following options as desired:

• Delete orphaned destination files: If checked, files at the destination that do not have a corresponding file at the source will be deleted from the destination.
• Follow symbolic links: If checked, Transmit will resolve symbolic links to their targets if encountered.
• Skip items matching rules list: If checked, Transmit will skip files during the sync that match the chosen skip rules. To find out more about rules, click here.
• Only transfer files modified in the last: If checked, Transmit will ignore files unless they have been recently modified.
• Determine server time offset automatically: If checked, Transmit will upload a small file to attempt to determine the difference (in any) between your computer’s local time and the server’s.

This option may not work on some servers. You can manually specify the difference in time between your computer and the server if the automatic method does not work.

• At the bottom of the sheet, Transmit will show you a summary of what actions will be taken. To proceed with the sync, click Synchronize.
• When the sync is complete, you will have the option to view or save a report of which files were transferred or deleted.