File Sync and offline access

Later today, or tomorrow, I'll be releasing QuickShadow Backup 2, which will do the continuous backup + detect that the NAS is no longer connected (eg laptop), and then it will store the file change operations and replay them later when the NAS is available again.

This does not sound like 100% what you are looking for, but it might go 50% or 60% of the way there.

Check http://quicklytech.com in about a days time and it should be available.

Alternatively, send me a private message here and I can let you have a pre-release beta.

I'm expanding my list of original contenders to include online backup services:

ReadyNAS Remote - http://readynas.com/remote
- Free (with purchase of a ReadyNAS)
- Network share access of ReadyNAS from anywhere.
- No offline access
- No mobile app
- No caching, poor performance
- No automatic backup or syncronization
- Sharing is difficult or impossible (at the user/share level, depends on ReadyNAS Configuration)
- Remote access from guest machine requires software installation

Dropbox - https://www.dropbox.com
- Agent runs against folder(s) on your PC
- syncing differences/changes to the cloud when necessary.
- offline changes are synced when online again.
- Local disk must contain full set of files.
- Web access (incl. gallery)
- Sharing
- iPhone app for documents/photos
- 50gb storage is $9/mo

ZumoDrive - http://www.ZumoDrive.com
- Agent runs on each PC
- ZumoDrive appears as a mapped drive letter
- ZumoDrive uses HDD space as configurable offline inteligent cache
- Syncs Folders too
- Intelligent Support for iTunes, iPhoto/Picasa, etc.
- Web access to all files
- Sharing
- iPhone app for music, photos
- 10, 25, 50gb for $3, $7, $10

Mozy - http://www.mozy.com
- Online cloud backup, single machine, single user
- Web and virtual drive access
- unlimited space for $54/year

Carbonite - http://www.carbonite.com
- Competes with Mozy
- unlimited storage for $54/year

Windows Live Mesh/Sync - http://www.mesh.com
- Agent runs on each PC
- Syncs folders to cloud
- Browser access
- No intelligent music/photo support
- No iPhone app
- Free. No word on available space

JungleDisk - http://www.jungledisk.com
- $2/mo for backups
- or $3/mo for virtual drive and multi computer sync
- includes 5gb, additional space billed by Amazon S3 ($0.15/gb/mo)
- web access
- portable USB version
- data de-duplication
- can backup network and portable drives

Reading along, I guess newer ReadyNAS products come with Memeo or NTI Shadow. Mine didn't come with such software, and there are OS compatibility issues to deal with. Both fall far short of the seamless multi-machine file/folder sync.

Memeo Backup - http://www.memeo.com/choose_backup_t1a.php
- Continuous backup
- one-click full-machine backup
- Windows XP/7 only
- $30

NTI Shadow - http://www.ntius.com/en/us/product/shadow4.asp
- Bi-Directional File Sync
- (nothing about multiple machines)
- Pretty basic
- $40

See the other post...

Add QuickShadow Backup 2 to your list (http://quicklytech.com):
- Continuous backup
- Windows Explorer / Shell integration for locating files on the backup, and restoring
- Synchronise
- 1 way and 2-way sync
- Multiple backup sets for mapping serveral sources -> destinatons
- Will copy open files
- Can sync on a schedule
- Offline / laptop away from home support including through machine shutdown / restart
- Supports Windows XP, Vista, Win7 in 32 and 74 bit versions
- $25 for up to 3 PC's
- Basic version (single backup set, no open files, 1 way sync only) is FREE.
- NO access to the backup through the internet, though (well it is possible but only by going to a LOT of trouble)

Here's another thought: why don't any of these tools run as a service? Most of them either die horribly or don't run at all (without reinstalling) if I log on as a different user or switch to another user without logging out from the first user account.

I'm thinking along the lines of Windows File Replication Service....runs all the time, in the background, low impact, completely silent. Only time I need to see something is in the event log or when I open a management tool. Or something that runs/triggers from the Windows Task Manager. No need to keep these apps open all the time unless they are doing live file difference/change monitoring. And even then, running as a service makes more sense than running in my current user context.

I've rejigged QuickShadow so that it does not matter what user name you log in with, it *should* start and "just work".

It's on my list to make it possible to run as a service as well.

This presents me with some large challenges: My application development framework does not really allow a single app to be built as a service or a standard UI that can run as either at the tick of a checkbox. Its more build one or build the other. (Though it *is* possible to have an app that switches - its just really hard.)

The second part of why its difficult is that a service cannot ever have an active UI (and doubly so in Vista and Win7). So it's neccessary to split the application into 2 parts - the front end UI part which can come and go, and the back end part which sits there chugging away.

If I'm grappling with these problems, you can be sure that the developer teams of other products are doing likewise. Its solvable (and I even have some template code running to get things going as a service), and I hope to do it some time. My imperative with QuickShadow Backup 2 was to get out the enhanced feature set that was there, it took a long time to get that developed, tested, etc. Adding the ability to run as a service had the potential to push out the release date by some months. (If that sounds extreme, an organisation I used to be involved with had a similar issue - its been on their books for 4 years - each developer that looks at solving the similar (but not identical) problem comes out with a dazed look after about a months effort, shaking their head and muttering dark thoughts.)

quickly_now wrote:
I've rejigged QuickShadow so that it does not matter what user name you log in with, it *should* start and "just work". It's on my list to make it possible to run as a service as well. This presents me with some large challenges: ...*snip*

It's OK. I wasn't referring to your app only. Just on my wishlist in general.

I'm a software engineer myself, and am well-aware of what it takes. You're right in that you'd have to develop 2 apps that communicated through some kind of management channel. (one for the service and bulk work, the other for visual feedback and configuration) But there are apps that are written like that. (backup agents and anti-virus apps come to mind) And I don't believe that ALL apps should be writen like that. Both strategies are useful at times.

efalsken wrote:
[snip] You're right in that you'd have to develop 2 apps that communicated through some kind of management channel. (one for the service and bulk work, the other for visual feedback and configuration) But there are apps that are written like that. (backup agents and anti-virus apps come to mind) And I don't believe that ALL apps should be writen like that. Both strategies are useful at times.

Yeah. Exactly :-)

Its just a matter of time, suitable method, demand, and payback for the investment.

I'm also looking for offline access, you didn't state which OS you're using:

Windows 2000, XP Pro, Vista Business & 7 Professional all have the 'Offline Files' feature built-in. I am trying to find an equivalent in Mac OS. [I currently carry about 80Gb of my network data.]

Check out this link for a DIY option http://www.tnpi.net/wiki/Do_It_Yourself_.Mac, or follow my post to see if anyone can help viewtopic.php?f=61&t=40968.

One of the screen shots with MobileMe shows the Mac OS offfering an 'offline cache' option [Create a local copy of your iDisk]. This is exactly the feature I am after, don't know if that was your goal?

awair wrote:

I'm also looking for offline access, you didn't state which OS you're using: Windows 2000, XP Pro, Vista Business & 7 Professional all have the 'Offline Files' feature built-in. I am trying to find an equivalent in Mac OS. [I currently carry about 80Gb of my network data.] Check out this link for a DIY option http://www.tnpi.net/wiki/Do_It_Yourself_.Mac, or follow my post to see if anyone can help viewtopic.php?f=61&t=40968. One of the screen shots with MobileMe shows the Mac OS offfering an 'offline cache' option [Create a local copy of your iDisk]. This is exactly the feature I am after, don't know if that was your goal?

I'm on Windows 7. I'm familiar with the offline files feature, but that copies the entire share/folder/files to your local drive in a temp location. Not exactly the same thing as a cache. The cache just keeps a copy of the file locally in case you access it frequently, it dosn't have to re-download the file again (unless it has changed). ZumoDrive (web service) has exactly what we are both looking for, but I was hoping for something I could use with my ReadyNAS.