File Syncing/Backup in OS9

[OS923]

I converted all my sitx backups to ShrinkWrap images. I indexed them with CatFinder. Searching a filename in my backups is now 120 times faster compared to ArchiveSearch.

[OS923]

Synchronize! Pro 4.3.1 -> 1009-6779-0168-7099-SP
Tri-BACKUP 3.2.2 -> L50 102 131 448
Tri-BACKUP 4.0.4 -> BU4-F12 208 599 770

[cyberish]

I converted all my sitx backups to ShrinkWrap images. I indexed them with CatFinder. Searching a filename in my backups is now 120 times faster compared to ArchiveSearch.

Thank you for all your efforts! Always interesting reading about your new discoverings!!

[Greystash]

Thank you very much!! Will give them a go

[OS923]

I found a memory leak in Synchronization. Now all memory leaks are gone.

[Greystash]

I've finally had a chance to do some testing and here's what I've found syncing a HD with 120GB of archived software:


File Synchronization - Apple control panel modified to use a bigger stack and more memory
- Works flawlessly
- Good UI
- The 'Scanning Files' step is considerably slower than all other applications tested

Synchronize! Pro
- Second slowest application, also seemed to struggle scanning for changed files.
- Often encountered issues syncing Desktop DB, DF etc. files

Personal Backup
- Works very well
- Good UI
- I'm assuming it uses a temp folder for transfers because it's the only application that leaves the current files in place until a file has been fully 'synced'. This means that if you cancel a sync the original files are still in place.
- Appears to be equal to Tri-backup in terms of speed.
- Tries to sync Desktop folders which sometimes need to be excluded due to errors

Tri-Backup
- Good UI
- Same speed as Personal Backup
- Excellent at running as a background task and doesn't seem to slow my G4 down
- I haven't come across any sync errors while using it!

My ranking:
1. Tri-Backup
2. Personal Backup
3. File Synchronization
4. Synchronize! Pro


OS923 I wasn't able to test your RealBasic App. Whenever I try to build the application I get errors. Are you able to send through a compiled version?

[OS923]

My 2 programs have some external items in common. When you open the project REALbasic 5.5.5 needs to locate those items and then it should be OK.

But I'll do like you asked and link them.

[Philgood]

Thanks a lot Greystash for letting us know!

[OS923]

OS923 I wasn't able to test your RealBasic App. Whenever I try to build the application I get errors. Are you able to send through a compiled version?

See attachments.

[Greystash]

Thanks for uploading those OS923. I've tried them out and both are at least 10 seconds faster than any of the other tools listed above.
I found several issues but these are obviously present because it's a first iteration.

- You can't cancel a sync/backup. The system is unresponsive until the task is complete, then a dialog shows saying that the task has been cancelled.
- There is no progress indicator so you can't tell whether the task is running or if the or the system has crashed

Thank you for your efforts, it's great to have more options!

[OS923]

Hmmm. I'll look into it.

[OS923]

I improved it with a progress bar. It uses a buffer of 64 MB, which it reads in blocks of 1 MB, then writes in blocks of 1 MB. I used this method in "Save a volume as a file" and I will use this too in the new Finder. Because reading is faster than writing, the speed will be initially higher, but then it becomes 'slower'. It copies large files at 17.1 MB/s. It copies small files at 4.6 MB/s.

[IIO]

17mb/s? why that?

[pmj]

Does Tri-Backup or Personal Backup carry program authorisations over OK or is it better to use the Apple Software Restore method for that?