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For the past couple months, I've had the opportunity to explore Siber System's flagship software suite: GoodSync 9. This software is available for both the Mac and PC operating systems and can be a lifesaver when you're attempting to quickly sync and transfer files between the numerous computers in your home network.
In addition to peer-to-peer backup and synchronization solutions, GoodSync will also allow backups and synchronizations to the most popular cloud drives such as Amazon Cloud, Microsoft SkyDrive, and Google Drive.
This amount of versatility is tough to come by as new capabilities are constantly becoming available, but in this case, GoodSync seems to do a good job "keeping up with the Joneses" in terms of the latest in cloud computing.
You are best off with GoodSync if you are already familiar with other FTP programs, such as WS-FTP and Filezilla. In both the Mac and PC versions, the GUIs (Graphic User Interfaces) are very similar. If you are comfortable with GUI-based FTPs, I'd say you're golden. However, if you are new to the remote transfer/backup/sync world, you will need to work very carefully with the online documentation. The documentation is good and will easily walk you through the setup process.
When the software first opens, it will request you set up a GoodSync account. This is required. Then you will be prompted to set up your first sync/backup job. This seems to work pretty easily for the home folders, but be prepared to do a little work when selecting the remote location.
Do You Want to Sync with Another Computer?
*____*While it's very hands-off once it's all set up, you need to do some fancy dance steps to set up direct syncing between two computers in your home network. The good news is that one GoodSync account is good for multiple computers. If you use GoodSync Connect for your computers to sync with each other, you need to login to a GoodSync account.
What this does is establish a duplicate set of files at GoodSync's own servers. I've found this method to work more efficiently, I'm not quite sure why.
I'm taking advantage of GoodSync to backup the pictures that I first upload to my MacBook.
Do You Want to Sync to a Cloud Service?
I actually have been more pleased with GoodSync for its ability to sync to a cloud drive. I have files scattered all over the cloud world, it seems. Therefore, I had the opportunity to sync with Microsoft SkyDrive, Amazon Cloud AND Google Drive. I also was able to use this to schedule FTP jobs to my personal website's cloud storage.
Syncing to a cloud service seems easier and more straightforward than the Peer-to-Peer service, from what I've experienced. If you select one of the cloud services as your origin or destination, you are simply presented with the login and password screen. Log in and you're good to go for choosing a folder to or from which to sync, or you can even create a new folder on the cloud.
In any case, once you select the origin and destination folders, you select "Analyze" to view a map of your file system. Then if you're happy with the mapping, you select "Sync" to begin the transfer job.
Some notes about GoodSync's services:
- You can perform multiple backup/sync jobs. If you choose the free version, you're restricted to only 3 jobs at a time. The only time the simultaneous syncing might have a problem is if you are attempting more than one job that might involve the same folder. Then the jobs will run in series.
- Feel free to schedule periodic sync jobs to automatically run. You don't have to keep the software open to do this. The software will work with your calendar settings to open the program, perform the analysis and syncing, then close.
- If you schedule sync jobs, the scheduling options seem rather complicated to me. You can easily schedule for frequencies up to 24 hours, but to do weekly or monthly sync jobs you have to add "rules" to your calendar. I'm reminded of how you set up "Out of Office" rules in Outlook. For my MacBook, the job will be put into your iCal application.
- GoodSync allows sync/backup jobs in both directions. If you work day-to-day with Google Drive, you can choose to run a backup job to your PC hard drive.
- The support services seem well done, with good documentation within the software, and an opportunity to easily submit a trouble ticket through the Help menu. I haven't needed it yet.
- If you do need help, be prepared to get used to "left vs. right" terminology. The software works very carefully to treat the "left" side of the window as the original file and the "right" side as the variable. Even in synchronization jobs, if the left side has a deleted file, the software will delete it on the right.
- Syncing through GoodSync seems much much faster than other backup methods that I've tried, from Time Machine to manual file transfers from my MacBook to my network attached storage device. I synced about 5 GB of photographs in 10 minutes, compared to well over an hour through manual means.
I am pleased with GoodSync, but I am a user who is accustomed to FTP GUIs and even command line FTP. I recommend it for any user who has a hodge podge of files scattered everywhere that he/she would like to have better organized.
You can download GoodSync 9 by Siber Systems free of charge with a 30 day trial before it reverts to a limited utility version (such as a 100 file per day transfer limit). Upgrade to the Pro version for a much more versatile suite of capabilities. GoodSync 9 Pro is available for PCs for $29.95 and Macs for $39.95. One license is required per computer.
GoodSync provided me with complimentary Mac and PC licenses for purpose of this review.
