| Main Page > Browse Categories > Did You Know? > Show All |
Did You Know? |
| You Can Automatically Synchronize Conflicts |
When you synchronize two locations and a file has changed on both sides since the last synchronization, that file will be identified as a conflict by ViceVersa. Since the same file has changed on both sides, ViceVersa does not know which version to keep and which one to overwrite.
Starting with ViceVersa PRO version 3 you can instruct ViceVersa to synchronize the conflict files by keeping the newer file and overwriting the older file and, at the same time, renaming the older file into filename_[timestamp]_CONFLICT.ext
In this way, all files are synchronized including conflicts, but old conflict files will be renamed with a timestamp and still be kept in the same folder for potential review by the user.
The option to activate renaming of conflicts is in profiles settings -> advanced settings and it is called: “Synchronize files even if in conflict (synchronization method)”
| You Can Compare Files in Source and Target Using SHA-256 at the same time as CRC32 |
Starting with ViceVersa PRO version 3, there is a new option called ‘Use also SHA-256 hash for comparison’.
You can use this option with CRC comparison.
When this option is enabled, ViceVersa will calculate both the SHA-256 along with CRC32 values during comparison and will use these to compare file contents.
Using SHA-256 is more reliable than just using CRC32 to compare file contents, however it is slower.
| You Can Copy Files 'Once Only' (from Source to Target) |
Consider the following scenario:
Files are present in a folder (the source) and they need to be copied to a target folder. Once the files are in the target folder they can be moved away by some further processing. However, even if the files in target folder are removed, the same file must not be copied again from source to target by ViceVersa.
Only if it changes in source, the same file must be copied again after the initial copy: we need to copy the files from source to target "once only".
This requirement can be satisfied by using ViceVersa in two different ways:
A) By using the ‘no rescan’ target option in ViceVersa. With this option ViceVersa does not rescan the target after the initial scan, so it does not know that the file was removed, hence it will not copy the same file again from source unless it changes after the initial copy.
This setup works fine, but it requires ViceVersa to use a tracking database, and if the tracking database is damaged or lost (unlikely), the files will all be copied again.
B) A second approach is available since ViceVersa version 3 build 3005. Making use of the Windows Archive Bit. The new option is called “Copy source files once only, using the archive bit”.
When this new option is enabled:
- ViceVersa will only copy files that have the Windows archive bit set, and exclude the rest.
- Then, once the files are successfully copied, ViceVersa will clear the archive bit so the files will not be copied again next time unless they change, even if the corresponding target file is removed from the target.
Since the archive bit is only set by Windows when a file changes or on a new file, and it’s reset by ViceVersa after copying the file when the option “Copy source files once only, using the archive bit” is enabled, this will result in a file being copied only once from source to target, unless its contents change, even if the corresponding file in target is removed.
This new option is available in profile settings -> advanced settings -> more settings and requires ViceVersa version 3 build 3005 or newer.
| You Can Easily Calculate File Hashes with a Windows Explorer ViceVersa Extension |
Starting with ViceVersa PRO version 3, there is a new option under Preferences called Install 'File Hashes Windows Explorer Extension'.
If you enable this and let ViceVersa install the extension, you will be able to right click on multiple files in Windows Explorer and show their most common file hashes: CRC32, MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, KECCAK and SHA-3.
The extension can be installed and uninstalled easily and quickly from the ViceVersa Preferences as needed.
| You Can Move Files from Source to Target |
With ViceVersa PRO 3 (or newer) you can move files from Source to Target.
The 'Move to Target' option is in Profile Settings -> Execution.
This option can be enabled if the Replication (Update Target) method is selected.
When the 'Move to Target' option is enabled, then:
*
All files/folders in Source that are not in Target will be moved to
Target (e.g. they will be copied to Target and then deleted from Source if the copy is successful).
* All newer files in Source are moved to Target to overwrite older files in Target (e.g. if a file is newer in Source, it will be copied to Target and then deleted from Source if the copy is successful).
*
If a Source file has a matching Target file already, it is not copied, but the file is deleted
from Source because it is already in Target.
It is also possible to move only specific files based on file filters, such as the file size, name, extension or date/time.
| You Can Reduce the Amount of Memory Used by ViceVersa |
Starting with ViceVersa PRO version 3, a new option called “Minimize Memory Usage” has been added to the profile settings (under Performance).
Enabling this option will result in a much lower memory usage by the profile: memory usage will be almost halved. This new option is useful when dealing with a lot of files in a profile, e.g. more than one million, as a guideline. Note that folder comparison will be marginally slower when this option is enabled.
| You Can Replicate / Synchronize File and Folder Security Attributes |
ViceVersa PRO always had the option to copy file and folder security attributes (permissions, ownership and optionally auditing) when a file or folder is copied between NTFS file systems.
Starting with ViceVersa PRO version 3, security attributes can now be replicated also for existing files, that is files that are already both in Source and Target and do not need to be copied again, and for files where only security attributes have changed since last replication/synchronization.
This new option is called ‘Recheck file / folder security during comparison’.
When this new option is enabled, ViceVersa will re-check and re-align the selected security attributes for all files and folders in Source and Target.
This means that the selected security attributes will be re-checked during comparison and will be re-adjusted during profile execution, and not only for files and folders that are copied but also for files and folders that are already both in Source and Target and for which only security attributes have changed.
Furthermore, VVEngine is able to detect changes in only security attributes, when working in real-time, and will replicate them if they change (without copying the file again, if the file hasn’t changed, only the security attributes).
Note that when only security attributes have changed for a file, then the security attributes are always copied from Source to Target, never from Target to Source.
| You Can Use ViceVersa PRO and VVEngine with Amazon WorkDocs Drive |
Amazon WorkDocs Drive is a mounted drive that provides access to all of your files that are on Amazon WorkDocs cloud. You can access, copy, delete and edit the files, just as if they were stored locally, using Windows File Explorer or any other application including ViceVersa and VVEngine.
The mounted drive will behave like any other drive or network share: ViceVersa will be able to synchronize/replicate files from/to the drive.
Multiple PCs and servers will be able to sync/replicate files from/to the Amazon WorkDocs drive in the cloud. Amazon WorkDocs will provide the secure and reliable file storage in the cloud, accessible as a standard share and mappable as a local drive letter.
Amazon WorkDocs Drive is available for Microsoft Windows, macOS, and for Amazon WorkSpaces.
How does Amazon WorkDocs Drive work?
With Amazon WorkDocs Drive, all of your content on Amazon WorkDocs is available on-demand through a mounted drive. You can sync, backup, replicate to/from this drive using ViceVersa and VVEngine.
Where can I download Amazon WorkDocs Drive?
Login your Amazon Workdocs and download the installer from there.
How do I set up Amazon WorkDocs Drive?
When Amazon WorkDocs Drive is launched for the first time, you will be prompted to enter a site name. Once your site name is entered, you will enter your user name and password.
What happens when you open a file in Amazon WorkDocs Drive?
The file is downloaded on-demand for you to view or edit. When you save or close the file, it is automatically synced to Amazon WorkDocs Drive. There is no local copy stored on your desktop, unless you have favorited the file for offline access.
Can I perform standard actions on files and folders on Amazon WorkDocs Drive?
Yes, you can create, rename, copy, move, and delete files and folders as if it was a local drive, however the files and folders are stored in the cloud.
More information on Amazon WorkDocs and Amazon WorkDocs Drive:
https://aws.amazon.com/workdocs/
https://docs.aws.amazon.com/workdocs/latest/userguide/workdocs_drive_help.html
| You Can Use ViceVersa PRO and VVEngine with Microsoft Azure Files |
Microsoft Azure Files offers fully managed file shares in the cloud that are accessible via the industry standard Server Message Block (SMB) protocol (also known as Common Internet File System or CIFS).
Azure File shares can be mounted concurrently by cloud or on-premises deployments of Windows, Linux, and macOS.
Azure Files key benefits
- Shared access. Azure File shares support the industry standard SMB protocol, meaning you can seamlessly replace your on-premises file shares with Azure File shares without worrying about application compatibility. Being able to share a file system across multiple machines, applications/instances is a significant advantage with Azure Files for applications that need shareability.
- Fully managed. Azure File shares can be created without the need to manage hardware or an OS. This means you don't have to deal with patching the server OS with critical security upgrades or replacing faulty hard disks.
- Scripting and tooling. PowerShell cmdlets and Azure CLI can be used to create, mount, and manage Azure File shares as part of the administration of Azure applications. You can create and manage Azure file shares using Azure portal and Azure Storage Explorer.
- Resiliency. Azure Files has been built from the ground up to be always available. Replacing on-premises file shares with Azure Files means you no longer have to wake up to deal with local power outages or network issues.
Azure Files how to:
Create Azure File Share
Connect and Mount on Windows
Using Azure Files with ViceVersa and VVEngine
Once the file share in the Azure cloud is created, it can be used locally as a standard disk/folder share by all applications including ViceVersa and VVEngine.
The share will behave like any other network share on the LAN: ViceVersa will be able to synchronize/replicate files from/to the share and VVEngine will also be able to monitor for file changes on the share and synchronize/replicate files in real-time.
Multiple PCs and servers will be able to sync/replicate files from/to the Azure share in the cloud. Azure Files will provide the secure and reliable file storage in the cloud, accessible as a standard share and mappable as a local drive letter. Importantly without the need to administrate or setup a new server or virtual machine.
The share will provide end-to-end encryption when using SMB 3.0. See How to Check the SMB Version of Your Network Connection
| You Can Use ViceVersa PRO and VVEngine with OneDrive, Dropbox, Creative Cloud Files and More |
OneDrive, Dropbox, Creative Cloud Files are cloud services that provide a local path, or a mounted drive, where you can access all your cloud files. You can access, copy, delete and edit the files, just as if they were stored locally, using Windows File Explorer or any other application including ViceVersa and VVEngine.
The mounted drive / path will behave like any other drive or network share: ViceVersa will be able to synchronize/replicate files from/to the drive, from other hard disks or external USB drives, SSD.
Some of these services also support change notifications (for example, OneDrive does), so that VVEngine will be able to execute in real-time, detecting file changes in the cloud drive and synchronizing / replicating changes locally. For example, one could setup a real-time sync between a folder on OneDrive and a folder on a local USB drive. Each time a change happens to the folder on OneDrive (a change that can be made on a phone for instance), the change is automatically replicated to the USB drive.
If you have a lot of files on OneDrive or other cloud services, you might want to make a copy to a backup drive for safety reasons. For that, you can use ViceVersa, which will compare your OneDrive vs another folder and only copy files that have changed since the last mirror, without copying every file each time.
| You Can Use ViceVersa PRO with a VeraCrypt File Container |
ViceVersa PRO and VeraCrypt are fully compatible. Once the VeraCrypt container is created and mounted, you can use it as a Source or Target in ViceVersa.
More information:
- Create and mount a VeraCrypt container
- VeraCrypt Home Page
| You Can Use ViceVersa PRO with Windows Virtual Hard Disk Files (VHD) |
ViceVersa PRO is fully compatible with mounted Windows Virtual Hard Disk Files (VHD). Once the Virtual Hard Disk File is created and mounted, you can use it as Source or Target in ViceVersa PRO. The Virtual Hard Disk File will act as a single file container.
