Synchronization application for SMB folder and Windows clients

[Antoshka]

Hi,

Recently I finished a build of my first FreeNAS, so now I'm trying to configure it and I need your help/advise.

My use case
Devices: home FreeNAS server, 1 PC (Windows), 2 laptops (Windows and Mac), 1 tablet-laptop (Windows), 3 smartphones, TV, backup server (old WD NAS).
Users: 2 people.
Scenario: I'd like to have a SMB folder that will be syncronized between 1 PC (Windows) <-> 1 laptop (Mac) <-> 1 tablet-laptop (Windows). Second laptop (Windows) needs only read access through SMB (it's a reason of SMB folder).

I tried to install and configure "Syncthing" plugin, but this application doesn't really support a syncronization on top of SMB folder + Windows clients. I think it works great with Linux, but it's a crap on Windows, client is awful.

I read that the Resilio Sync app could be better, but I saw a few posts with similar issues for syncronization on SMB folder.

Also I installed and briefly reviewed NextCloud - it looks great, but as I understood it's impossible to configure it on top of SMB folder, am I right?

So my question, does anyone use any application for simple syncronization (would be enough only local sync) on top of SMB folder between Windows/Mac clients?
I'm looking for positive/negative experience, any experience would help.

Thank you in advance.

 

[Yorick]

I'm not sure I understand the use case. You are saying you want the folder contents to be available offline on the client, and then re-synced to the SMB share when the client comes back online?

 

[Antoshka]

Let me provide a few examples.

Prerequisites:
FreeNAS, PC (Windows), laptop (Mac), tablet-laptop (Windows) have folder A, this folder is syncronized between devices. This folder A on FreeNAS is shared by SMB.

Use Case 1: I've added file B into folder A on PC (Windows). Syncronization. FreeNAS, PC (Windows), laptop (Mac), tablet-laptop (Windows) have folder A with file B. I can see file B through network, SMB.

Use Case 2: I've added file C into folder A through SMB. Syncronization. FreeNAS, PC (Windows), laptop (Mac), tablet-laptop (Windows) have folder A with file C.

 

[Antoshka]

Small note: for use case 1-2 all devices are online. I'd like to get really basic functionality that worked as a clock on QNAP, I'm sure it's totally possible with FreeNAS, it's necessary to find the right way

 

[Dan Tudora]

hello
I think this https://www.duplicati.com/articles/Getting-Started/#introduction do your job
success

 

[Antoshka]

Firstly, thank you for the proposal. Unfortunately, I'm not sure that it will do job because as I see from getting started, schedule topic - app (backup) runs only by schedule, there's no option "as changes detected". Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Dan Tudora]

Firstly, thank you for the proposal. Unfortunately, I'm not sure that it will do job because as I see from getting started, schedule topic - app (backup) runs only by schedule, there's no option "as changes detected". Correct me if I'm wrong.

I think you a right
we use duplicati for backup/sync backup indeed
maybe in your case answer is rsync/cwRsync run from 5 to 5 minutes or less
success

 

[Antoshka]

Any other thoughts?

 

[thehoney4you]

Seems to me the answer is to map a share on each of the computers, save file there?
net use x: \\server\share
or did I miss something?

 

[ChrisRJ]

You wouldn't have the file available locally on your device for offline use.