Synchronization Programs

For the last several years, one of my favorite programs has been Network Unplugged. Not long after I started using Network Unplugged, Mobiliti, the company that made it was acquired by Packeteer. At that time, the name was changed from Network Unplugged to Mobiliti.

Regardless the program was still the same. The aspect of this program that I really loved was that it replicated the network folders I designated onto my local drive. Thus, when I was away from the office, I could still access my files. In addition to replicating the files, however, it also replicated the drive path. Thus, accessing a file when I am sitting on my back deck is the same as accessing one when I am in the office. When I return to the office, I simply synchronize the files and I am all set.

Unfortunately, last year Packeteer was acquired by Blue Coat Systems. As a consequence, Mobiliti is no longer being sold. Thus, I have started looking for a possible replacement, in the event that I will have to make a switch in the future. Right now Mobiliti is still working fine for me. However, I want to be preapred in case I develop a problem with it or if it comes time to upgrade to a new computer.

One program that I have stumbled across is BeInSync. It looks promising. However, I am curious if there is anyone who has tried it who doesn’t mind sharing their experiences. I am also open to other suggestions. The key features I am looking for are preserving the file paths and good synchronization.  I am also not interested in a solution that requires me to have an internet connection.

Although I am connected to high speed internet much of the time, there are places I visit regularly where I have no reliable internet connection.

A Mobiliti Solution

One of my favorite programs is Mobiliti which is now owned by Packeteer, Inc. When I first started using the program it was called Network Ungplugged. I actually prefer that name, because it is a great description of what it does. The program allows me to synchronize my network files to my laptop so that I can work on the files when I am away from the network. Not only is this program easy to use, but it also preserves the file paths of the files, so that working on the files on my laptop is just like working on the files on my network.

Mobiliti is a great program and one I recommend for anyone often has to work when disconnected from the network.

Recently, I had some files on our network that were deleted. I had local copies of the files on my laptop and I needed to synchronize them back to the network. The way that the synchronization is set up, if a file is deleted from either the network or the local drive, the other file is deleted upon synchronization. In this case, I did not want that to happen. Instead, I wanted certain local files to be copied back to the network.

I looked in the configuration settings and did not find a way to do that. I checked the online Knowledge Base and still found no solution. So I contacted customer support via email and got my answer. I am posting it here in case others need the info and so that I can find it again.

  1. Go to File\Synchronization settings\synchronization tab and set it to fully interactive mode. Save changes by clicking OK.
  2. Sync.
  3. At the preview, select the file that you don’t want to be deleted from the real network. Right click and choose “Change sync action”
  4. Set the sync action to the new desired action and proceed with sync.