regularly sync up mba with imac (ipod style)?

[spacka]

hello all.

i finally transferred everything i wanted from my imac to my new macbook air. however, i was wondering if there was a way to regularly do a kind of "top-up" sync for when there are any slight changes to files, apps, settings etc? kind of like an ipod?

i know this seems like it would be difficult so im just wondering.

cheers

 

[plinden]

Chronosync

Incidentally, you can do all this without a third party app with what comes with OS X, but it's difficult to get working right if you're not a *nix geek (which I assume you're not since you wouldn't be asking this question if you were).

 

[spacka]

hah, yeah im no geek. cheers for the help i'll report back when ive given it a shot.

 

[NC MacGuy]

But it's $30.

 

[plinden]

Nothing else I've come across is less expensive. You'd better read up on rsync then, if you want to save $30.

Here's how I keep my iTunes library on my Mac Mini (my HTPC under the TV) sync'ed with my iMac.

I installed SleepWatcher on the Mini and wrote scripts that SleepWatcher runs when the Mini wakes up. Among other things, the script attempts an rsync over ssh to sync the iTunes Music folder from the iMac to the Mini (if the iMac is asleep the rsync just doesn't work). I could easily modify the script to sync my whole home folder.

 

[Diatribe]

But it's $30.

If you can afford an iMac and a MacBook Air what's $30?

 

[NC MacGuy]

If you can afford an iMac and a MacBook Air what's $30?

Saving $30 here and there is exactly how I can afford them. Actually, I don't want my iMac synced w. the Air. I want to sync my new MBP w. my new MBA. the iMac is for the kiddies.

 

[GoCubsGo]

^^ Why not use Time Machine?

 

[NC MacGuy]

^^ Why not use Time Machine?

What is this thing you speak of - time machine??

 

[Diatribe]

Saving $30 here and there is exactly how I can afford them. Actually, I don't want my iMac synced w. the Air. I want to sync my new MBP w. my new MBA. the iMac is for the kiddies.

Yeah, I undestand, and from my point of view syncing should be included in OSX but it is not so...
Anyway if you buy now at $30 they'll upgrade you for free when 4.0 comes out (says the website). How is two laptops treating you? Wouldn't iMac/MBA be a better combo?

 

[NC MacGuy]

Yeah, I undestand, and from my point of view syncing should be included in OSX but it is not so...
Anyway if you buy now at $30 they'll upgrade you for free when 4.0 comes out (says the website). How is two laptops treating you? Wouldn't iMac/MBA be a better combo?

I've been manually dragging crap via Time Machine backup for syncing. The MBP stays on my desk and is very nice and I kind of need a mobile backup for my Air since I travel quite a bit - thus the MBP. If anything, I'd get a new 24" display to compliment the two.

 

[Diatribe]

I've been manually dragging crap via Time Machine backup for syncing. The MBP stays on my desk and is very nice and I kind of need a mobile backup for my Air since I travel quite a bit - thus the MBP. If anything, I'd get a new 24" display to compliment the two.

So what do you take with you when you travel? I am actually in the position where I am thinking of going MBA/iMac (I currently have a MBP) but I don't know, what do you think are the benefits of having a MBP in addition to a MBA?

 

[McGilli]

Hey this chronosync looks like just the thing for me.... Since I record all my Logic sessions on the iMac - but now am taking them portable on the MBA for vocal sessions etc - this is exactly what I need so that when I come home it will sync all the new Locig data back to my iMac...

Last night - doing a manual sync i almost overwrote all my newest files with the old ones and would have lost a days worth of recording sessions...

ya the $30 looks decent, plus the $10 saving on the next version. any company that offers free upgrades usually end up getting my money...

Good thread...

 

[plinden]

If you want to spend some time getting this right, you can do this with the rsync command - I still recommend splashing out the $30 though:

First, set up password-less ssh between your computers - I'm not going to explain how to do this here, but from a quick google (any Unix/Linux instructions will work on OS X) http://www.cs.toronto.edu/~murray/compnotes/passwordless_ssh.html

If you're on your MBP and syncing to your MBA:

rsync -axS -e ssh --delete /Users/ncmacguy ncmacguy@macbookair.local:/Users/ncmacguy

Or if you're on your MBP and syncing from your MBA:

rsync -axS -e ssh --delete ncmacguy@macbookair.local:/Users/ncmacguy /Users/ncmacguy

Commands are similar if you're on your MBP.

I really don't recommend this unless you're willing to screw up your account, since this replaces all files you're syncing to that are different. I'm telling you, unless you're careful, you'll regret not spending that $30.

 

[NC MacGuy]

So what do you take with you when you travel? I am actually in the position where I am thinking of going MBA/iMac (I currently have a MBP) but I don't know, what do you think are the benefits of having a MBP in addition to a MBA?

The Air is my travel laptop and used 80-90% as non-traveling computer too.

The MBP has all the ports -( just in case), a larger display, more horsepower w. built in optical for Handbrake, PhotoShop or anything else that can sit and process while I take the Air and run. The MBP is very beneficial if the Air has to go into the shop or I need a larger display & portability w. optical disk for a business meeting or a Powerpoint/Keynote w. clients/employees. I had an older MBP and first Gen. Air and it was a perfect combination. The MBP pretty much sat on my desk until I needed it, which was infrequent but very handy. An external display and what else do I really need? The MBP can be portable where the Imac is inconveniently barely mobile.

 

[wheelerw]

I don't know if this would work for you, but I use dropbox.com. I use this to sync my documents folder across all my computers. I only use it for my documents folder (school work, files, some music, etc). Its so easy. Anything that is dropped into the dropbox folder automatically syncs with all the other computers immediately. I think there is a limit on storage though.

 

[lucidmedia]

I don't know if this would work for you, but I use dropbox.com. I use this to sync my documents folder across all my computers. I only use it for my documents folder (school work, files, some music, etc). Its so easy. Anything that is dropped into the dropbox folder automatically syncs with all the other computers immediately. I think there is a limit on storage though.

Dropbox is amazing... free for 2GB of storage... $99 a year for 50GB.

 

[KevinSkocik]

I'd recommend Live Mesh. It'll sync selected folders between a number of machines for free. You also get 5 gigs of online storage. http://www.mesh.com