Managing files between work<->home machines on multipl

[bhuiyan]

Hi all,

Many of us are using work provided desktop(s) AND/or laptop(s). In my case, I mostly use a work provided desktop (with windows 2000 Japanese)and a personal T41 (with Windows XP English) and a work provided T42 (with Windows XP Japanese), but I also use other machines with Debian Linux Japanese version. I have a personal desktop too, with Debian linux English version. Occasionally I have saved files, in almost all of them. Now I am thinking of an easy way to manage all my files from all my machines. Forum members who have changed jobs, what did you do with your files when you have changed your job and had to leave work provided machines at your old workplace? And in general, how do you work with multiple machines on multiple Os's and still can synchronize the files and backups among them? Ideally, I'd like to have a copy of most of my files on my personal desktop and laptop too. I am looking for some tips and ideas from someone who was in similar situation and who have been able to successfully implement a system for some time now.

Regards

Shoaib

[jdhurst]

Keep your main files on one personal laptop and keep it with you. If you need a file where you are, you can retrieve it. Backup the files on your personal laptop to a different personal machine or other media. I don't know of a solution that can synchronize three or more machines. I use Briefcase to synchronize my laptop with my desktop and that serves my needs adequately. ... JD Hurst

[DavidNZ]

I use SynchronizeIt! to sync folder between my X40 and two external USB hard drives (one, called Brugge, is a 20GB 1.8"; the other, called Antwerp, is 20GB 2.5"). (Am thinking of getting another 40GB 2.5" just as a master backup to use with Acronis or something.)

Anyway, Brugge travels with me pretty much everywhere, largely because it has a small footprint being only a 1.8" drive. I sync to it maybe four or five times a day.

I use Antwerp for storing not only all my main files, but everything else (Thinkpad drivers, photos, etc.). I sync to it maybe once a day before I power down. Antwerp also gets sync'ed to my desktop computer at work, usually three or four times a week, depending on how often I'm actually in the office.

This system works pretty well, I have to say. You can automate SychronizeIt! so that all you have to do is double click an icon and it handles the sync automatically. I haven't had a problem yet. If my X40's hard drive were to fail (knock on wood), I would only loose what had not been saved since my last sync with Brugge.

I used to use Briefcases quite a bit, but I was confusing myself because some briefcases were effectively mirrors of other briefcases. I had it straight for a few months, but it just got too complicated.