lsyncd

Lsyncd

lsyncd is a utility that synchronizes local directories with remote targets using rsync. It aims to provide a simple way to frequently and efficiently mirror local directories across many servers.
lsyncd image
rsync mirroring replication

Lsyncd: Synchronize Local Directories with Remote Targets

A utility that mirrors local directories across multiple servers using rsync, aiming for simple and efficient synchronization

What is Lsyncd?

lsyncd is a utility that synchronizes local directories with remote targets using rsync. It runs as a daemon in the background and ensures that local directories remain synchronized with the specified targets.

Some key features of lsyncd:

  • Monitors local directories for changes using inotify and then triggers rsync to sync those changes to the targets
  • Supports syncing to remote servers over ssh
  • Can sync to multiple targets in parallel
  • Includes exclude, include, and other rules to control what gets synced
  • Designed to efficiently transfer only the differences in files when syncing

lsyncd aims to make it easy to keep critical directories like configuration files, storage mounts, and application data in sync across servers with minimal overhead. It is often used to simplify replication and clustering for high availability. Since it uses rsync under the hood, it is generally much more efficient than basic cron + rsync scripts for frequently syncing directories.

Lsyncd Features

Features

  1. Real-time mirroring of local directories to remote targets
  2. Configurable one or two way sync
  3. Support for rsync, SSH, and other protocols
  4. Event-driven monitoring and syncing
  5. Exclude filters for fine-grained control
  6. Daemonized process for background syncing

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Lightweight and efficient

Easy to configure

Great for keeping remote servers in sync

More reliable than cron+rsync scripts

Open source with active development

Cons

Less features than commercial alternatives

Steeper learning curve than GUI tools

Requires familiarity with rsync

No built-in GUI


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