Do two read-only devices not sync between them when original is offline?

[gilli]

Hi there,

I was wondering whether this was a bug or if it was as designed.

I got one computer that is sharing files (117gb) and two read only computers. When the main computer is offline the other two stop syncing between them completely, one of them has gotten a lot further ahead in syncing than the other one so I would have thought the one behind would catch up while the main computer is offline.

However I could understand there might be some complications regarding authority, as in those two read only computers cant tell the other one that they should sync according to them because they are both just read-only.

So like I said, is it a bug or by design?

Regards,

Gilli

[upcboy]

Sounds like its by design. The 2 read only Clients shouldn't Sync with each other, Because you wouldn't want it to duplicate changes on RO clients to be duplicated to other clients

[kos13]

Actually if two RO nodes has something to exchange, they should. Can you elaborate on your exact setup and use case?

[Disappointed Cat]

Out of curiosity: Is the data sent by RO nodes verified by an RW node?

This could be exploited. Especially if here are no RW nodes online.

[gilli]

Here is my setup:

Computer A: Desktop PC running Windows 7

Computer B: HP microserver running Ubuntu 12.04 - Connected to A on a local network but both are connected to the world wide web.

Computer C: VPS from Backupsy running Ubuntu 12.04

Computer A has the original documents, mostly pictures while computer B and C got read-only syncs.

Computer A has 117GB to be synced, Computer B has downloaded around 80GB and computer C 50GB. If Computer A gets disconnected then it seems B and C stop syncing completely, nothing going up or down on either of them, even though B has 30GB more data than C.

[rusl]

Hey cool you're using Backupsy. I'm using them too.

I have almost identical set-up to you. I have read-only on Backupsy server, read-only on Raspberry Pi (on my local network), and I have a Linux desktop which is read/write. I make changes on the Linux desktop computer and the changes are propagated at fairly high speed to my Raspberry Pi which is on my local network. Once I notice the Raspberry Pi is synched (and Backupsy is not even close to synched because my uplink is slow) I turn off my Linux desktop and I go outside to play in the sunshine (or go to sleep at night). When I wake up in the morning I check the Backupsy server and it has caught up and synched to the Raspberry Pi (and my desktop computer). Hence, the Rappberry Pi and Backupsy server are both read-only and they do share data to complete the synch when my only read-write computer is offline.

From what you say it sounds like your Microserver isn't talking to your Backupsy server. Try stopping BTSync on your Desktop PC, but use the Web UI to check on your Microserver and Backupsy to see if they're talking to each other while your Desktop is "offline" from the share.

To assist with the connectivity I would suggest you enter a 'pre-defined host' in the folder settings pointing to the static IP address of your Backupsy server since that IP address never changes and Backupsy is always online. Do this on all computers that share with the Backupsy server.

This is what I have done and it seems to be working.

Also, is there any special reason why you don't use read/write for your Backupsy and Microserver ? I've found it handy if I'm remotely accessing them I can send config files back to my Desktop from the servers. Or do you not trust the security of your servers?

[gilli]

Have you had Backupsy for long? I just signed up less than a week ago and so far so good, but it still seems a bit too good to be true with those prices haha.

Anyway my Microserver and Backupsy server seem to find each other, when I visit the Web UI both of them show up under "Connected devices and status" but nothing is being transferred. Like right now, I am at work and my main computer is off, Microserver has completed the sync and has 117GB but the Backupsy server only has 62GB and shows that it is connected to the Microserver but for some reason just isn't transferring anything.

Also, is there any special reason why you don't use read/write for your Backupsy and Microserver ? I've found it handy if I'm remotely accessing them I can send config files back to my Desktop from the servers. Or do you not trust the security of your servers?

Well mainly there is just no reason to use RW for this specific folder on Backupsy and Microserver since I won't be putting anything in it on any computer except the main one, I had planned to use another folder for other stuff I would want to sync both ways.

I will try your tip with entering pre-defined hosts and see if that changes anything.

Thanks,

Gilli

P.s. Did you know rusl means garbage in Icelandic..

[gilli]

Never mind, I ran apt-get upgrade on both machines, it updated btsync, then I rebooted and it is now working as intended.

Thanks for your help anyway!

[Camaban]

Have you had Backupsy for long? I just signed up less than a week ago and so far so good, but it still seems a bit too good to be true with those prices haha.

Really does, doesn't it? Then again, the only unusual thing you're getting is the HDD space.

I've been using them for I think about a month and they've been brilliant. A couple of teething troubles, but nothing remotely deal-breaking.

[rusl]

Never mind, I ran apt-get upgrade on both machines, it updated btsync, then I rebooted and it is now working as intended.

"Have you tried turning it off and on again?"

And thanks for the Icelandic language lesson. In Australian your name is honourable and means "One who walks", but is spelt Gilly. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Gilchrist#Walking_and_discipline

[handle]

Hi there,

I was wondering whether this was a bug or if it was as designed.

I got one computer that is sharing files (117gb) and two read only computers. When the main computer is offline the other two stop syncing between them completely, one of them has gotten a lot further ahead in syncing than the other one so I would have thought the one behind would catch up while the main computer is offline.

However I could understand there might be some complications regarding authority, as in those two read only computers cant tell the other one that they should sync according to them because they are both just read-only.

So like I said, is it a bug or by design?

Regards,

Gilli

It is a possibility. What happens (as far as I understand) is RW nodes send out "modification requests" to RO nodes. These requests are "signed" in a way that only RW nodes can sign them, and RO nodes can verify that these signatures are legitimate but cannot create the signatures themselves.

Now, there are two possibilities beyond this that a dev would have to verify for me. If an RO node actually stores these modification requests with signatures, they can then pass them on to other RO nodes. If these requests are not stored however, they cannot tell other RO nodes to modify anything, and so they cannot propogate changes to other RO nodes.