Best file sync software for local disk to NAS?

[tony22]

I've used SyncToy for quite some time, but like many I find the 2.1 version to be very slow. It's gotten to where, with the larger and larger disks that are in my system, it really is a little annoying to use. I've looked around and there seem to be more than a few file sync programs. I was hoping folks here could recommend which one has the best combination of absolute reliability, speed, and flexibility when syncing files to a NAS.

I found this wiki page

Comparison of file synchronization software - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

and it's really chock full of info, but real world experience is important too.

 

[tony22]

Anyone?

 

[bbinnard]

I used Synctoy for quite a while but then switched to SyncBack. The 2 are fairly similar but SyncBack is supported and there are 2 pay versions available if you want more features.

SyncBack Free - freeware version of the ultimate data backup software

 

[dsperber]

As a general folder/file compare/sync tool, I've been using Beyond Compare forever. Couldn't live without it for everyday needs.

It's got a free 30-day trial, so you can give it a go yourself and see if it meets or misses your needs and expectations.

 

[tony22]

It seems FreeFileSync is somewhat popular. Has a lot of bloatware that can be bypassed with a custom install (from what I've read), but I wonder if anyone has tried it?

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

It seems FreeFileSync is somewhat popular. Has a lot of bloatware that can be bypassed with a custom install (from what I've read), but I wonder if anyone has tried it?

I use FreeFileSync (FFS) to backup internal drives to external ones using a built-in dock in my computer. Since SyncToy worked for you, albeit slower than desired, I don't see why FFS wouldn't work for you. It is free (duh!), easy to use, and fast. Of course, its speed is also dependent on the connection used to the destination drive (in your case, the NAS).

I especially like the versioning feature that gives you the option to dump deleted files into a folder and/or drive of your choice instead of the Recycle Bin or sending them to Computer Never Never Land. This way, you can review the folders and files that were deleted from the destination drive before deleting them or you can hang on to them for a while in case you decide you didn't want to delete any of them (a process called versioning).

A pretty much essential feature for me is the option to identify the destination drive by drive name instead of drive letter. I like that because drive letter assignments on external drives can be fluid. Using the drive name instead of a drive letter ensures the backup will work no matter what drive letter the computer assigns to the destination.

FFS does come with OpenCandy, a bloatware loader, imbedded in the installation file but one can avoid the bloatware by paying attention during installation and deselecting the bloatware offering. Also, MBAM will pickup on the OpenCandy in the installation file as a PUP during a scan. Since OpenCandy will run only during FFS installation and doesn't install itself, staying confined to the FFS installation file, it doesn't hurt to have it on your computer. Since I keep all downloaded installation files after installing their programs, I keep MBAM from hitting on the OpenCandy in FFS' installation file by adding .disable to the end of the installation file's filename. It also ensures that OpenCandy can never run on its own, although it's highly unlikely it ever will. If I ever need to use it again, all I need to do is delete the .disable first. If you don't retain installation files like I do, deleting it will also get rid of OpenCandy.

 

[pcunite]

FileBackupEX ? No bloat ware, not sure I trust companies who put that stuff in their installers.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

...No bloat ware, not sure I trust companies who put that stuff in their installers.

Normally I don't but FreeFileSync's installer is harmless as long as one pays attention while installing.

 

[HammerHead]

Good Sync

This one is not free. I have no complaints. I keep many, many files synced between two comp.

GoodSync: File Synchronization Software, File Backup, File Sync

 

[scr]

It seems FreeFileSync is somewhat popular. Has a lot of bloatware that can be bypassed with a custom install (from what I've read), but I wonder if anyone has tried it?

I've been using FFS everyday for over a year for daily, weekly and monthly backups of my documents, photos, configuration files and a few other things across several media types. No issues, no problems, no cost. Does it's job well.

However, I also image my drive weekly.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

It seems FreeFileSync is somewhat popular. Has a lot of bloatware that can be bypassed with a custom install (from what I've read), but I wonder if anyone has tried it?

I've been using FFS everyday for over a year for daily, weekly and monthly backups of my documents, photos, configuration files and a few other things across several media types. No issues, no problems, no cost. Does it's job well.

However, I also image my drive weekly.

I pretty much do the same. I use FFS to make two backups of my main data drive every day. I also use Macrium Reflect make a weekly image of my C: drive every week after I run my full AV and anti-malware scans. I also make an image just before installing a program or making any other major change.

 

[scr]

It seems FreeFileSync is somewhat popular. Has a lot of bloatware that can be bypassed with a custom install (from what I've read), but I wonder if anyone has tried it?

I've been using FFS everyday for over a year for daily, weekly and monthly backups of my documents, photos, configuration files and a few other things across several media types. No issues, no problems, no cost. Does it's job well.

However, I also image my drive weekly.

I pretty much do the same. I use FFS to make two backups of my main data drive every day. I also use Macrium Reflect make a weekly image of my C: drive every week after I run my full AV and anti-malware scans. I also make an image just before installing a program or making any other major change.

Sounds like we follow the same backup procedures. I used Macrium Free for about a month and liked it so much I purchased a license. I clean out the junk, run the AV and AM scan, check to see if defrag is necessary and then create the image weekly. I also create an image on a different partition before I do anything to the system, experience has taught me that I will need it when I screw it up.

I try to keep the most recent 4 images when possible but I want a larger external drive. I have three lists, Need, Want and Wish... I can't seem to get past the Need list lately.

 

[dsperber]

Just in passing, there is considerable difference between "sync files" approach to backing up your data (no matter how many duplicate copies you make for presumed reliability concerns) and true "backup" (which would provide "daily recovery" capability of anything you've had on your system on any day over some past period of time, rather than just keeping a "current copy").

In other words, while I too run Macrium Reflect for once-weekly "system image" backups to a 2TB external USB 3.0 drive (retaining 6 generations) on one system and twice-weekly "system image" backups on my HTPC system (to potentially protect myself against losing too much copy-protected recorded TV subject to DRM encrypting issues where the WMC encryption key is date-sensitive), I use NovaBACKUP as my true "data" backup mechanism. Again, the 2TB external USB 3.0 drive is the target for the backups.

The NovaBACKUP scheme involves running a FULL backup (i.e. of EVERYTHING on all of my internal hard drives except for the \Windows folder on C) on the 1st of every month. Then on every subsequent day of the month I run a "daily INCREMENTAL" backup, which backs up only those folder/files which have been created or changed since the previous backup (either FULL or INCREMENTAL), i.e. in the past 24 hours. As long as a file exists when the nightly INCREMENTAL backup is run, it will get onto that backup dataset and therefore be available for possible recovery at any time in the future should it be necessary or desired.

I retain 4 complete "month-based sets" (i.e. monthly FULL on the 1st plus daily INCREMENTAL for every other day), so I have the ability to recover ANY folder/file which existed ON ANY DAY (at least when that day's FULL or INCREMENTAL backup got run) in the past 4 months. This satisfies my paranoia that I might want to recover some file I previously had deleted or replaced (so that it is no longer on my system or available in the form I truly now need), where the more current version may be defective or invalid (or even missing!) and I need to get a prior version to satisfy this particular situation's needs.

In other words, the ability to selectively recover ANY date's version of a folder/file going back any length of time into the past (4 months in my case, with daily recovery capability for ANY day in that 4 month period) can ONLY be provided if (a) you're using suitable backup software that provides this date-sensitive recovery capability for each folder/file that has been backed up on ANY dataset (i.e. FULL or INCREMENTAL) covering the entire period represented by how many "month-based sets" are available, and (b) you actually have retained as many "month-based sets" as you need to guarantee recoverability to meet your personal or professional (or paranoid) needs.

So Macrium Reflect provides my Windows system backup (i.e. everything on C, including \Windows). And NovaBACKUP provides my "data" backup. I do not use "sync" as a backup method, although I certainly do keep my two desktops and laptop "in sync"... but using Beyond Compare.

NOTE: Macrium Reflect also provides this "data backup" capability in addition to its "system image" backup capability. But I much prefer the GUI and additional features of NovaBACKUP, which is why I don't use Macrium Reflect for "data" backups. That's actually the same reasoning (in reverse) that I use Macrium Reflect for "system image" backups, even though NovaBACKUP also has a similar "system image" capability, much preferring how Macrium Reflect works for this task.