Java Glossary : rsync

Java definitions: 0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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rsync is a file transfer program for Unix systems. rsync uses the rsync algorithm which provides a very fast method for bringing remote files into sync. It does this by sending just the differences in the files across the link, without requiring that both sets of files are present at one of the ends of the link beforehand. Rsync is usually teamed with SSH for privacy. Without rsync, with ordinary FTP, your passwords are sent in plain text, easy pickings for snoops. Normally you have a full time rsync server on TCP port 873, with clients coming in via SSH Rsync client software, though it is possible to run the server, as needed, via a remote SSH login.

The problems with rsync are primarily political.

You need permission to install and run rsync on some server.
You need permission to tunnel through the client and server firewalls to get to the rsync server.

I wrote The Replicator, an rsync replacement, which uses just ordinary FTP and HTTP to get around those two problems. You don't need anything but vanilla generic FTP/FTPS and HTTP software running on the server. It is not as clever as rsync, but it fills the same niche.

Delta File Creator Student Project ¤ Rsync under Windows ¤ SSH ¤ The Replicator

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