rsync vs Unison : Which is Better?
rsync
rsync is a utility for efficiently transferring and synchronizing files across computer systems, by checking the timestamp and size of files. Developed by Wayne Davison
License: Open Source
Unison
Unison is a file-synchronization tool for OSX, Unix, and Windows. It allows two replicas of a collection of files and directories to be stored on different hosts (or different disks on the same host), modified separately, and then brought up to date by propagating the changes in each replica to the other. Developed by Benjamin C. Pierce
License: Open Source
rsync VS Unison
Rsync is primarily focused on one-way file synchronization with high efficiency, making it ideal for backups and mirroring. In contrast, Unison excels at bidirectional synchronization, allowing users to seamlessly collaborate on files across multiple locations.
rsync
Pros:
- Highly efficient for one-way synchronization
- Supports resuming interrupted transfers
- Can work over SSH for secure transfers
- Delta transfer algorithm minimizes data transfer
- Widely used and well-documented
- Can synchronize local and remote directories
- Supports various file systems
- Can handle symlinks and hard links
Cons:
- Primarily designed for one-way sync, not ideal for bidirectional
- Does not handle conflict resolution automatically
- May require additional scripting for advanced features
Unison
Pros:
- Bidirectional synchronization
- Automatic conflict resolution
- User-friendly interface with GUI options
- Can synchronize files in both directions seamlessly
- Good for collaboration scenarios
Cons:
- Potentially more complex to set up
- Performance may lag with large datasets
- Not as widely adopted as rsync
Compare rsync
