Differences between Syncs
Introduction
Sometimes, you may need to synchronize folders from one location to another. AOMEI Backupper is a great tool to accomplish this goal. There are four sync ways available in AOMEI Backupper: Basic Sync, Mirror Sync, Real-time Sync, and Two-Way Sync. Each sync method runs in a different way to meet differentiated needs.
Then, how to configure the desired synchronization in AOMEI Backupper? You could keep reading below to learn more. Please download AOMEI Backupper Professional or higher version at first.
Situations:
Case1: You would like to simply copy files from one path to another.
Suggestion: You can use the “Basic Sync” in Backupper.
If you add or modify files in the source, the added or modified files will be synced to the destination directory after the next successful sync.
But if you add, modify or delete a file in the destination directory, the corresponding file in the source directory will always remain unchanged.
In Basic sync, there is an option “Sync the deletions in source directory to destination” option. After you tick the option, the same file in the destination directory will also be deleted if you delete the file in the source directory.
For example, there are A, B, and C files in the source and destination after one sync. If you tick the option, once you delete A in the source directory, A will also be deleted in the destination directory. If you do not tick the option, A will not be deleted in the destination directory even though it is deleted in the source.
There is also a “Verify the integrity of files in the destination directory during synchronization” option. This option is especially useful if a file is lost or deleted in the destination directory. The missing files will always be synced from the source to the destination directory to ensure the integrity of files only if the file is still in the source directory.
For example, if you tick the option and delete file A in the destination directory and A is still in the source directory, A will be synced to the destination again after the next successful basic sync.
If you do not tick the option, A will not be synchronized to the destination even though the file is still in the source. In this way, A is only deleted in the destination.
If you would like the program to automatically and periodically run the sync, you can configure a “Schedule Sync” so the program will run file sync at a scheduled time.
Case2: You would like to always keep the target directory files exactly the same as the files in the source directory.
Suggestion: You can use the “Mirror Sync” in Backupper.
For Mirror Sync, the newly added and modified files in the source directory will be synchronized to the target directory, and the files in the target directory will always be exactly the same as the files in the source directory. Files in the target directory that are inconsistent with those in the source directory will be deleted or overwritten.
For example, there are files A and B in the source and destination directory after sync. If you add a new file C or modify A or B in the destination directory, C will be deleted in destination directory after the next successful mirror sync. The modified A or B in the destination directory will be the same as A and B in the source directory even though it is modified. (It means the destination file will always be exactly the same as the source after successful sync no matter how it is modified in the destination path.)
If you delete A or B in the destination directory, A and B will still be synced to the destination after the next successful mirror sync.
But if you delete A or B in the source directory, A or B will also be deleted in the destination directory after the next successful mirror sync.
If you would like the program to automatically and periodically run the sync, you can configure a “Schedule Sync” so the program will run file sync at a scheduled time.
Case3: You would like to immediately sync changed files in the source to the destination directory.
Suggestion: You can use the “Real-time Sync” in Backupper.
For real-time sync, it will automatically real-time monitor the source directory. Once there’s any change happens to any files or folder in the source directory, the program will sync them immediately to the destination directory.
But if you change, add or delete files in the destination directory, the change, addition, and deletion operation will not be synced to the source directory.
For example, if there are A, B, and C files in the source and destination directory after sync. You can add a D file or delete any file in the source, the added D will be synced to the destination directory. The deleted file will also be deleted in the destination directory.
But if you add a D file or delete a file in the destination directory, the source files will not be changed, added or deleted.
Also, there is a “Verify the integrity of files in the destination directory during synchronization” option in real-time sync.
This option is especially useful if a file is lost or deleted in the destination directory. The missing files will always be synced from the source to the destination directory to ensure the integrity of files only if the file is still in the source directory.
For example, if you manually delete a file in the destination, the file will still be synced from the source to the destination only if the file is in the source directory.
If you do not tick the option, the deleted file in the destination directory will not be synchronized even though the file is still in the source. In this way, this file is only deleted in the destination.
Case4: You would like to always keep the source directory files and destination directory files exactly the same.
Suggestion: You can use the “Two-Way Sync” in Backupper.
For Two-Way Sync, the addition, modification, and deletion operations in the source directory will be synchronized to the target directory, and the addition, modification, and deletion operations in the target directory will also be synchronized to the source directory.
Compared with Basic, Mirror, and Real-time Sync, the main difference lies in the fact that only in Two-Way Sync the modifying, adding, and deleting operations in the destination directory will be synced to the source directory. The Basic, Mirror, and Real-time Sync are all one-way syncs. (Only sync from source to the destination.)
For example, there are files A and B in the source and destination directory after sync.
If you modify A or add a new file C in the source directory, the modified A and new C will be in the destination directory after the next successful sync.
Likewise, if you modify A or add a file D in the destination directory, the A in the source will also be modified and the new D will be synced to the source after the next successful sync. If you delete B in the source directory, B will also be deleted in the destination directory. Also, the file B in the destination directory, the B in the source directory will also be deleted after the next successful sync.
If you would like the program to automatically and periodically run the sync, you can configure a “Schedule Sync” so the program will run file sync at a scheduled time.