AtlantaBob
Golden Member
Apologies in advance -- not sure if this is the right forum as it spans all of these systems.
So... here's my challenge. I'm working on a research project spread across multiple computers:
Windows XP Laptop @ work
Linux (Ubuntu) Desktop @ work
Windows 7 Laptop @ home
Linux (Ubuntu Server Edition) Server @ home
Max Mini (Snow Leopard as soon as it is released) @ home.
Some of the work needs to be done on the Windows machines (Excel VBA application and some other proprietary stuff); while a lot of the data is stored on Linux/depends on Linux tools (mySQL database, LaTeX, shell scripts using tools like awk/sed/grep); and, of course, I just like doing a lot of the work on OS X.
Most of the time I transfer data between home and work on a thumbdrive. My problem is that I keep on mixing up versions. (e.g. is the file in the "working/dataset A" folder really the latest version?)
I suppose that I could only try to keep one copy (and hence KNOW it's the most recent), but I like to have backups in case I loose the thumbdrive/laptop gets stolen/etc.
Connecting to the home server from work isn't an option. Data exchanged on a daily basis can be anywhere from 50 MB to several GB.
I know that there are tools like CVS and rSync out there, but I don't have any experience with them. Can someone suggest if I should look for a software solution, or just get into a regular practice in trying to manually sync data?
I suppose the other option would be to set up some sort of shell script in Linux/OS X that would automatically backup the thumb drive to a dated directory and just manage the Windows data manually.... would that make sense?
Thanks in advance, and please let me know if you have any questions.
Edit: I can't spell in the title. Oops.
So... here's my challenge. I'm working on a research project spread across multiple computers:
Windows XP Laptop @ work
Linux (Ubuntu) Desktop @ work
Windows 7 Laptop @ home
Linux (Ubuntu Server Edition) Server @ home
Max Mini (Snow Leopard as soon as it is released) @ home.
Some of the work needs to be done on the Windows machines (Excel VBA application and some other proprietary stuff); while a lot of the data is stored on Linux/depends on Linux tools (mySQL database, LaTeX, shell scripts using tools like awk/sed/grep); and, of course, I just like doing a lot of the work on OS X.
Most of the time I transfer data between home and work on a thumbdrive. My problem is that I keep on mixing up versions. (e.g. is the file in the "working/dataset A" folder really the latest version?)
I suppose that I could only try to keep one copy (and hence KNOW it's the most recent), but I like to have backups in case I loose the thumbdrive/laptop gets stolen/etc.
Connecting to the home server from work isn't an option. Data exchanged on a daily basis can be anywhere from 50 MB to several GB.
I know that there are tools like CVS and rSync out there, but I don't have any experience with them. Can someone suggest if I should look for a software solution, or just get into a regular practice in trying to manually sync data?
I suppose the other option would be to set up some sort of shell script in Linux/OS X that would automatically backup the thumb drive to a dated directory and just manage the Windows data manually.... would that make sense?
Thanks in advance, and please let me know if you have any questions.
Edit: I can't spell in the title. Oops.
