Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

rsync

rsync is a file transfer program for Unix systems. rsync uses the "rsync algorithm" which provides a very fast method for bringing remote files into sync.

rsync

rsync Reviews and Details

This page is designed to help you find out whether rsync is good and if it is the right choice for you.

Screenshots and images

  • rsync Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-07-31

Features & Specs

  1. Efficient Data Transfer

    Rsync uses a delta-transfer algorithm which allows it to update files by only sending the differences between the source and destination, greatly reducing the amount of data transferred.

  2. Bandwidth Throttling

    Rsync provides an option to limit the bandwidth used during the transfer, helping to manage network resources and avoid congestion.

  3. Compression

    Rsync supports compression of data during transfer, which can further reduce the amount of data sent over the network.

  4. Secure Transfer

    Rsync can utilize SSH for secure data transfer, adding a layer of encryption to protect data as it moves between systems.

  5. Versatile

    Rsync can be used for a variety of tasks such as backups, mirroring, and synchronization, making it a versatile tool for different data management needs.

  6. Preserves File Attributes

    Rsync preserves file permissions, timestamps, ownerships, and symbolic links during the transfer, ensuring that all file attributes remain intact.

  7. Widely Supported

    Rsync is available on most Unix-like operating systems and there are ports available for Windows, making it accessible across different platforms.

  8. Open Source

    Rsync is free and open-source software, allowing anyone to use, modify, and distribute it without licensing fees.

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Videos

Rsync Backup on Linux

How to Properly Use Cloud Storage | Rsync Encrypt Tutorial

Setup OpenMediaVault 5.0 beta NAS on Raspberry Pi 4: RPi4 NAS + Configure RSync with x2 shares OMV5

Social recommendations and mentions

We have tracked the following product recommendations or mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you see what people think about rsync and what they use it for.
  • Openrsync: A BSD-licensed implementation of rsync, by the OpenBSD team
    Ubuntu's rsync is samba rsync. It's not part of the samba project per se, but it is made by the same guy and the official url is https://rsync.samba.org/ so it's entirely fair to call it samba rsync in my opinion. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 months ago
  • CDC File Transfer
    Please bear in mind that there are [now] two distinct rsync codebases. The original is the GPL variant [today displaying "Upgrade required"]: https://rsync.samba.org/ The second is the BSD clone: https://www.openrsync.org/ The BSD version would be used on platforms that are intolerant of later versions of the GPL (Apple, Android, etc.). - Source: Hacker News / 10 months ago
  • Down the Rabbit Hole of creating a Home Lab
    Rsync - Fast file copying and syncing. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • Researchers have identified a total of 6 vulnerabilities in rsync
    Does this apply to the GPL or BSD codebase? There are (now) two rsync codebases. GPL: https://rsync.samba.org/ BSD: https://www.openrsync.org/. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Which synchronization tool are you using together with the pCloud Crypto Folder?
    Rsync can be used to synchronize a local disk to the pCloud drive p. Works similarly as the Sync option of the pCloud Drive app. May be useful if one prefers a bulk upload once a day over a continuous synchronization. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Advanced Backup and Disaster Recovery Strategies
    Tools that can be used to handle this include Rsync, Duplicati, Cohesity. - Source: dev.to / almost 3 years ago
  • Use rsync to Sync a Node Project to Dropbox and Ignore the node modules Folder
    To overcome this issue, you can use rsync, a powerful command-line tool for synchronizing files and directories, along with a bash script that excludes the node_modules folder and also filter out anything in a .gitignore file that you specify. In this article, I'll guide you through the process of setting up and using this bash script to sync your Node.js project while ignoring the node_modules folder. - Source: dev.to / about 3 years ago
  • i have seen a video about syncthing and I am interested, but I would have a slightly different use case
    Rsync will probably work better for this use case. Source: about 3 years ago
  • [Q] paperless-ngx: migrate to new host with UTF8 files?
    Give rsync a try, it should handle UTF filenames just fine. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Set Location option is broken. Deletes file instead of moving it.
    ~ Esp. For larger torrents, I think it's useful to use your file manager or something like rsync to manually copy the files, then move it in qBittorrent and afterwards you can remove the files yourself from the original location as to avoid your files from being lost? For me the 'move torrent' function in qBittorrent seems to be a bit quicker this way. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • Download Google Photos with all metadata at once (natively)
    Rclone is a bit like rsync, but aims to connect to any cloud storage provider, including Google Photos and Google Drive. I can "easily" download your files from the cloud provider, or upload files, or many other features. The interface is command-line, which can look intimidating for some users. Source: over 4 years ago
  • Looking for feedback on my backup process
    โ€ข I then copy the contents of my main drive to a number of external hard drives (which also will be spinning disc and encrypted) using rsync. I'll keep most of these external drives at home but always make sure that I have at least one hard drive stored at a different location. From time to time, I'll swap this offsite hard drive with one of my newly backed up hard drives from home. Source: over 4 years ago
  • What are rsync and failovers?
    Https://rsync.samba.org is not only a file transfer tool, but it can synchronize directories locally or over the network using ssh, stunnel or its own protocol(you'll have to run rsync in daemon mode on one of the hosts for that). It can copy/update files that are missing on the target host and (optionally) it can delete files that have been deleted on the source, but are still present on the target. Source: almost 5 years ago
  • MySQL shell: the best tool for your logical backups
    Before we can import the data into a local MySQL instance, we need to download the relevant part of the dump to the local machine. Our import script uses rsync with a set of pre-configured --include and --exclude options under the hood to do that. Overall, we can typically download only about 2 GB of data out of the 23 GB dump. - Source: dev.to / almost 5 years ago
  • Need programmers advice on a complex project. Is this possible?
    Never used it myself, but I am pretty sure you can do this with syncthing. The other possibility that comes to mind is to use rsync and whatever scheduling facility your OS provides. Source: about 5 years ago
  • Can't get rsync to ignore .git directories
    Hbarta@olive:~/Downloads/rsync$ rsync --version Rsync version 3.1.3 protocol version 31 Copyright (C) 1996-2018 by Andrew Tridgell, Wayne Davison, and others. Web site: http://rsync.samba.org/ Capabilities: 64-bit files, 64-bit inums, 64-bit timestamps, 64-bit long ints, socketpairs, hardlinks, symlinks, IPv6, batchfiles, inplace, append, ACLs, xattrs, iconv, symtimes, prealloc Rsync comes with... Source: about 5 years ago
  • Need help with data migration and deduplication
    I have also heard people talking about using other programs that have reduplication built in as a way to accomplish this, most notable rsync and also borg backup. These require a bit more confidence in one's skills than I have at the moment for the task at hand. Source: over 5 years ago

Summary of the public mentions of rsync

Rsync stands as a prominent tool in the landscape of file synchronization and backup solutions, especially within the domain of Linux and UNIX-like systems. Having been mentioned frequently across various technical articles and community discussions, its strengths and minor setbacks are well-documented amid comparisons with other solutions such as FreeFileSync, Syncthing, and GoodSync.

Core Capabilities and Features

Rsync is lauded for its efficiency in performing both incremental and full backups. It allows users to update entire directory trees and file systems, conducting local as well as remote backups seamlessly. With its capability to synchronize files over the network, rsync proves invaluable for managing data across multiple hosts. Advanced users often leverage its powerful scripting and automation capabilities via command line interfaces, creating cron jobs customized to particular synchronization schedules or data protection policies. Community discussions also highlight rsyncโ€™s ability to preserve file permissions, ownership, and links, making it a robust option for maintaining data integrity.

User Interface and Accessibility

While rsync is predominantly recognized as a command-line tool, its accessibility is broadened through graphical user interfaces (GUIs) like Grsync. This eases the barrier for users unfamiliar with command-line operations, though the original user experience still caters predominantly to those comfortable with UNIX-like environments. Rsync's adaptability to different synchronization and backup scenarios is further enhanced by community-contributed scripts and tutorials, detailing diverse usage patterns such as excluding specific directories (e.g., node_modules) in development workflows.

Performance and Limitations

Despite its strengths, some criticisms surrounding rsync are notable. Users report challenges such as replication errors when handling large volumes of files, and it notably struggles with open file handling during synchronization tasks. Its "bare-bones" design implies that while rsync is highly configurable, it lacks some advanced features present in other competitors (e.g., deduplication in Borg Backup) and may involve a steeper learning curve for those new to system administration.

Security and Vulnerabilities

The security track record of rsync requires attention to detail, especially considering its importance in data management strategies. Mentions of vulnerabilities discovered in different codebases prompt users to continually monitor updates and security advisories, ensuring configurations adhere to best practices for data security, especially when rsync functions as a daemon or across unsecured networks.

Competitive Landscape

Within the sphere of file synchronization tools, rsync's simple yet potent capabilities are often preferred for straightforward, reliable data backup tasks. However, its perceived complexity and specific limitations might lead potential users towards alternatives such as Syncthing and Duplicati, which offer GUI-driven experiences and cloud integration features. Rclone's similar command-line interface, tailored for cloud storage connections, presents as a worthy alternative for tasks directly interfacing with cloud services.

In conclusion, rsync remains a stalwart choice for Linux and Unix users who appreciate control, scriptability, and efficient incremental backups. As long as users are mindful of its limitations and vulnerabilities, rsync can proficiently serve both simple and complex data synchronization needs in diverse technical environments.

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