Sync macbook air to mac mini

Question

Sync macbook air to mac mini

I am finding it incredible that there is no easy way to set up a system so that I can easily sync selected data from my macbook air to my mac mini desktop and vice versa. I've been looking around and there are a dozen cloud based systems that charge a bundle for effectively backing up and then synching data. but that is not what I am interested in. I would like a solution to using my macbook air on the road, then when i get home connect to my mac mini my private network and sync the data that I created, updated, deleted.

I have a time capsule but i am finding it difficult to figure out how to make it work? Is it possible for me to sync my air through the lion server on the mac mini and then backup the server with the time capsule? This seems like it should be a simple and painless inclusion in Lion? It is very un- Apple like that it takes a third party service to simply sync two computers that are in the same location and owned by the same person. I understand that iCloud can do this, but I need more than 200 GB of space and I don't want to pay a fortune. After all, don't they market the air as the on the go computer to go with a mac desktop?

Mac mini, Mac OS X (10.7.3)

Posted on Feb 21, 2012 5:55 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

woodmeister50

Level 6

19,723 points

Feb 22, 2012 2:22 AM in response to skylerwilliams

If you are simply trying to sync just data between

computers, there are any number of third party sync

programs that can do that over your home network.

Most will allow you tos set up any number of folders

on one computer that you want to sync to another.

Another option, depending on the amount of data,

is to connect an additional hard drive or USB memory

stick to the time capsule. You can then use one of the

sync programs have each computer sync to it. Having

an additional backup of just data, besides what Time Machine

provides, is a good idea anyway.

If you are also talking about syncing mail, bookmarks,

contacts, etc. Apple's iCloud can do some of this,

however syncing email is still problematic unless all

your email sources are IMAP based..

Also, if you are comfortable with working with command line

utilities, you may want to check out the system supplied

rsync. This may do what yo want. Using command shell

scripting, you can create any sort of operations you wish.

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Answer 2

Feb 22, 2012 6:43 AM in response to woodmeister50

Thanks. What programs are you specifically talking about? The syncing of data is the big thing, of course, I'd be psysched if I could figure out how to get everything synced and then I selectively choose what goes on the mini which has significantly less space.

I wish I was more comfortable with the command scrips becuase from the research that i've done rsych seems like a good solution.

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Answer 3

kylepiggy

Level 1

106 points

Feb 24, 2012 4:24 PM in response to skylerwilliams

Currently i use dropbox to transfer files between my devices you can purchase 50GB for $9.99/m or $99/y, or you can use airdrop on your mac if you are doing mac to mac transfers

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4783

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