So I want to sync folders on my desktop and notebook...

[archcommus]

I know how to set it up with my program, but how do I physically connect them to transfer files? Can I somehow connect my notebook to my desktop with a USB A to A cable and transfer that way? You probably can't do that.

 

[Varun]

2.5" external USB hard drive enclosure

That should do you nicely, unless someone says otherwise it looks like you stick a notebook drive in it and plug it into your USB connector.

 

[The J]

There are some special USB "crossover"-type cables you can buy that will do the job. You could also just buy an ethernet crossover cable and connect the computers that way. You'll probably have to run the Network Setup Wizard if you have Windows XP on the computers, but that's not too hard to do.

 

[Varun]

I find networks pretty slow for large file transfers (unless you are lucky enough to have Gb), however you are correct that would be the absolute easiest way to hook them up.

If you have a router, you can just use your regular network connection, otherwise a crossover ethernet cable is pretty cheap.

The initial sync will be the slowest anyways, and after that it will be better.

 

[archcommus]

I definitely don't want to pull the notebook HDD every time I want to sync! lol

Ethernet crossover cable would work, as long as they'd recognize each other instantly and transfer speeds would be decent. Would it be at least the speed of USB2, say 20 MB/sec?

 

[Varun]

If you have Gigabit ethernet in both cards it would be faster. 100Mb/s (12.5MB/s) ethernet is slower than USB2 though.

Convienience is the key to using the ethernet, as well as cost.

 

[archcommus]

I thought normal ethernet was 10/100? So normal ethernet couldn't do 100 Mb/sec?

 

[JackMDS]

May be this can Help: http://www.ezlan.net/direct.html

As for Sync options.

Set the Netowrk Sharing and Map the Drive: http://www.ezlan.net/faq#map

There are two terms used in conjunction of backing files to a mapped drive.

1. Sync Folder/File, which means backup folder/files of your choice according to a given schedule or by manual command. I.e. the Sync. is not a constant Sync that occurs with every content changed.

2. Mirror Folder/Files, which keeps doing a constant Automatic Mirror of Folder/Files as they change (It is like RAID done by software).

Mirroring by software has an advantage on Hardware RAID, unlike Hardware RAID that backs-up the whole drive with the OS and the core applications. Software RAID can mirror just the Folders/Files of your choice.

There is a lot of Sync. Programs and very few Mirroring Programs.

IMHO the best of them, and as far as I know the only one that provides both form of backup, is: ViceVersa.

:sun:

 

[Varun]

Originally posted by: archcommus
I thought normal ethernet was 10/100? So normal ethernet couldn't do 100 Mb/sec?

Normal ethernet is 10/100 Mbps which means 10/100 Mega bits per second. Since all data is measured in Bytes (8bits) you just divide by 8 for a close number. There is also overhead so you will never see the full 100Mbits.

USB2 is 480Mb/s or 60MB/s which is quite respectable. PATA is usually around the 100MB/s and SATA is 150MB/s. SATA II is 300MB/s

small b means bits, big B means bytes. One Byte is 8 bits.

 

[archcommus]

Originally posted by: Varun

Originally posted by: archcommus
I thought normal ethernet was 10/100? So normal ethernet couldn't do 100 Mb/sec?

Normal ethernet is 10/100 Mbps which means 10/100 Mega bits per second. Since all data is measured in Bytes (8bits) you just divide by 8 for a close number. There is also overhead so you will never see the full 100Mbits.

USB2 is 480Mb/s or 60MB/s which is quite respectable. PATA is usually around the 100MB/s and SATA is 150MB/s. SATA II is 300MB/s

small b means bits, big B means bytes. One Byte is 8 bits.

I know all that, but you said gigabit could do 100 Mb/s, and I was asking if normal ethernet could do that, as well. I thought it could.

Thanks, JackMDS for the info. ViceVersa is actually what I'm using right now to sync up my documents on my desktop with my external HDD. I call it syncing, or mirroring - all it's doing is making them match. Aren't the two terms basically the same?

I guess the best route is ethernet, but I doubt neither my motherboard nor my notebook is gigabit-ready. I hope I can achieve 12.5 MB/s.

 

[JackMDS]

Do not worry about Giga it is just a name using it with two Client OS' is not so hot.

Most of the time it is just doubles the speed (as oppose to the word Giga that might suggest 10 time faster). Peer to Peer Giga Home Networks.

:sun:

 

[speedlever]

ViceVersa. Interesting. How does it compare to SyncbackSE?

http://www.2brightsparks.com/

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: speedlever
ViceVersa. Interesting. How does it compare to SyncbackSE?

http://www.2brightsparks.com/

I do not think that it does on the spot RAID type Mirroring.

:sun:

 

[archcommus]

Originally posted by: JackMDS

Originally posted by: speedlever
ViceVersa. Interesting. How does it compare to SyncbackSE?

http://www.2brightsparks.com/

I do not think that it does on the spot RAID type Mirroring.

:sun:

I don't know if VVP does or not, but it doesn't matter, because I keep my external drive disconnected anyway except for when I'm backing up.

So for my external drive, continue to use VVP and USB2, and for my notebook, just get a CAT5 crossover cable? And then will I be able to set up a VVP project to sync them?

And will I get anywhere near 12.5 MB/sec? I'm used to 15-20 with my external drive.

 

[shoRunner]

briefcase

 

[archcommus]

Not familiar with it and going to bed now, can you explain it?

 

[archcommus]

So how is briefcase really any different from using something like VVP?

 

[archcommus]

Bump.