You can find other alternatives to create a Dropbox clone (see the end of the post), but GoodSync is my preferred option. GoodSync is also developed by the makers of Roboform, one of our favorite password managers.
Set up dropbox on mac portable#
It works on Windows and Mac (and can be run off a portable drive) and has a variety of types of devices you can sync to (including network shares, SFTP, WebDAV, Amazon S3, Google Docs if you're a paid account user, SkyDrive, and Windows Mobile).
We're going to use GoodSync to sync files to your web host via SFTP (SFTP is a file transfer protocol like FTP except it's secure, since it encrypts all your data and commands during the transfers). You could also rent cheap server space from somewhere like Amazon S3. (Note: not all web hosts approve of you using their web space for just backups or file storage, so check with yours first Dreamhost is one provider that offers dedicated space for personal storage as well as hosting). Finally, if you're paying for web hosting service already, you can make better use of available free space by using it to store your own files. You can schedule multiple syncing jobs for different purposes: sync your work and home documents folders every time a file changes, for example, while syncing the music folder on your laptop with your home server every Wednesday at 5pm in another. Instead of selecting just one folder to keep up to date, you can, if you choose, select several with GoodSync. A self-hosted solution will give you more control and peace of mind than most sign-up-and-forget online services can offer.įlexibility and precision. The biggest reason many of us might go looking for Dropbox alternatives is lack of control or a feeling of uncertainty with things like odd changes in terms of service implying the syncing service "owns" our files. Why Set Up Your Own Syncing System?Ĭontrol.
Set up dropbox on mac how to#
Below, we'll detail how to set up a Dropbox clone, complete with instantaneous, encrypted syncs, cloud backups, and file versioning, using cross-platform software GoodSync. While online services like Dropbox may be the most convenient options, there are plenty of reasons you may want to "roll your own cloud" and sync your files to your own web server or just on your local network.
How to Set Up a File-Syncing Dropbox Clone You Controlįile syncing is a godsend when you work on multiple computers or devices and want to make sure you have the most up-to-date files wherever you log in.