Sync two computer systems together???

Cvdasf · May 16, 2015

I have two computers i currently use. Both run windows 7. I find it very annoying and unproductive for me to have two computers with separate things on there. I always have to check or find which computer has what file and the whole things a mess for someone like me. Is there a way to clone a computer and have it exactly like another one? Continue to clone? So if something is on one computer the thing will be on the other one aswell.

bambiboom · May 16, 2015

Cvdasf :

Cvdasf,

I think what you you're talking about is a home network that works a bit like a server / node.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/start-here-to-set-up-a-home-network-in-windows-7

In this you set up both systems with network cards and there is a router that sends the data to each point- different systems, Internet, printer, and etc. These do not have to be identical systems., Each system has individual drives for programs and local storage, but the one called the server has a drive or array of drives in RAID with virtual disks where all the files are kept. Anytime you work on something, you are using the same file whether it's on one system or the other, so there is not a confusion over multiple versions. The best idea is to have the big, central drive (Partition) where all the project files are kept have a RAID 1 that takes two identical drives and every time something is saved, the other drive makes an exact copy. Then if one drive fails, the other preserves everything and you have time to replace the drive and the RAID will "rebuild" and make a new, second copy.

I've used more than one system for about five years, one system for modeling and CAD, the second system being for renderings and backup and have longed to set up this kind of arrangement. It's very inconvenient as I'm always switching a USB portable drive between the two- which are only about three inches apart.

I was given an actual server and hub, a Dell Poweredge 2600, but it is too noisy to keep in the same room as I work. If you can keep it remotely, a server is the best solution, and old ones can be cheap, but you have to run MS Server or a Linux OS and it complex to set up and maintain. A well-planned home network is more useful at home for two or three systems. If it's WiFi then , your laptop, smart TV and other devices can join in. I have a ROKU box and can stream Netflix, YouTube, photos and videos to the TV wirelessly.

It's a slightly complicated thing to do, but step by step is not difficult and this save a lot of fuss, confusion, massive drive cloning, and is a better protection for the files. I would also run an external backup too, that is not running continuously and has incremental backup at the end of every day so there is third copy ( in addition to the RAID 1 with two copies) that is isolated from power surges and viruses as it's not running except to backup. Keep a system restore image on it as well as the files. If you get an impossible virus or OS implosion, you can restore everything with a few clicks.

Now, I only need to practice what I preach!

Cheers,

BambiBoom

These are two systems I'm using and you can see the pending upgrades are both to have a RAID 1 backup. Still the real answer is to have a network.

HP z420 (2015) > Xeon E5-1660 v2 six-core @ 3.7 /4.0GHz > 16GB DDR3 ECC 1866 RAM > Quadro K2200 (4GB) > Intel 730 480GB > Western Digital Black WD1003FZEX 1TB> M-Audio 192 sound card > Logitech z2300 > Linksys AE3000 USB WiFi > 2X Dell Ultrasharp U2715H (2560 X 1440) > Windows 7 Professional 64 >
[ Passmark Rating = 4918 > CPU= 13941 / 2D= 823 / 3D=3464 / Mem= 2669 / Disk= 4764]

Pending upgrade: HP /LSI 9212-4i PCIe SAS /SATA RAID controller, 2X Seagate Constellation ES.3 1TB (RAID 1)

Dell Precision T5500 (2011) > Xeon X5680 six -core @ 3.33 / 3.6GHz, 24GB DDR3 ECC 1333 > Quadro 4000 (2GB ) > Samsung 840 250GB /WD RE4 Enterprise 1TB > M-Audio 192 sound card> Linksys WMP600N PCI WiFi > Windows 7 Professional 64> HP 2711x (1920 X 1440)
[ Passmark system rating = 3339 / CPU = 9347 / 2D= 684 / 3D= 2030 / Mem= 1871 / Disk= 2234]

Pending upgrade: PERC H310 PCIe SAS /SATA RAID controller, 2X WD Black 1TB (RAID 1)(Converts disk system from 3GB/s to 6GB/s

Cvdasf · May 16, 2015

bambiboom :

Cvdasf :

Cvdasf,

I think what you you're talking about is a server /node. In this you set up both systems with network cards. These do not have to be identical systems., Each system has individual drives for programs and local storage, but the one called the server has a drive or array of drives in RAID with virtual disks where all the files are kept. Anytime you work on something, you are using the same file whether it's on one system or the other, so there is not a confusion over multiple versions. The best idea is to have the big, central drive (Partition) where all the project files are kept have a RAID 1 that takes two identical drives and every time something is saved, the other drive makes an exact copy. Then if one drive fails, the other preserves everything and you have time to replace the drive and the RAID will "rebuild" and make a new, second copy.

I've used more than one system for about five years, one system for modeling and CAD, the second system being for renderings and backup and have longed to set up this kind of arrangement. It's very inconvenient as I'm always switching a USB portable drive between the two- which are only about three inches apart. I was given an actual server and hub, a Dell Poweredge 2600, but it is too noisy to keep in the same room as I work. If you can keep it remotely, a server is the best solution, and old ones can be cheap, but you have to run MS Server or a Linux OS and it complex to set up and maintain.

It's a slightly complicated thing to do, but does save a lot of fuss, confusion, massive drive cloning, and is a better protection for the files. I would also run an external backup too, that is not running continuously and has incremental backup at the end of every day so there is third copy ( in addition to the RAID 1 with two copies) that is isolated from power surges and viruses as it's not running except to backup. Keep a system restore image on it as well as the files. If you get an impossible virus or OS implosion, you can restore everything with a few clicks.

Cheers,

BambiBoom

These are two systems I'm using and you can see the pending upgrades are both to have a RAID 1 backup. Still the real answer is to have a network.

HP z420 (2015) > Xeon E5-1660 v2 six-core @ 3.7 /4.0GHz > 16GB DDR3 ECC 1866 RAM > Quadro K2200 (4GB) > Intel 730 480GB > Western Digital Black WD1003FZEX 1TB> M-Audio 192 sound card > Logitech z2300 > Linksys AE3000 USB WiFi > 2X Dell Ultrasharp U2715H (2560 X 1440) > Windows 7 Professional 64 >
[ Passmark Rating = 4918 > CPU= 13941 / 2D= 823 / 3D=3464 / Mem= 2669 / Disk= 4764]

Pending upgrade: HP /LSI 9212-4i PCIe SAS /SATA RAID controller, 2X Seagate Constellation ES.3 1TB (RAID 1)

Dell Precision T5500 (2011) > Xeon X5680 six -core @ 3.33 / 3.6GHz, 24GB DDR3 ECC 1333 > Quadro 4000 (2GB ) > Samsung 840 250GB /WD RE4 Enterprise 1TB > M-Audio 192 sound card> Linksys WMP600N PCI WiFi > Windows 7 Professional 64> HP 2711x (1920 X 1440)
[ Passmark system rating = 3339 / CPU = 9347 / 2D= 684 / 3D= 2030 / Mem= 1871 / Disk= 2234]

Pending upgrade: PERC H310 PCIe SAS /SATA RAID controller, 2X WD Black 1TB (RAID 1)(Converts disk system from 3GB/s to 6GB/s

If I setup a home network, I could also add:

HP z420 (2013) > Xeon E5-1620 four core @ 3.6 /3.8GHz > 24GB DDR3 ECC 1600 RAM > AMD V4900 (1GB) > Seagate 500GB > Linksys WMP600N WiFi
[Passmark system rating = 2372 / CPU = 9001 / 2D= 712 / 3D= 1353/ Mem= 2261 / Disk= 712]

Dell Precision T5400 (2008) > 2X Xeon X5460 quad core @3.16GHz > 16GB DDR2 667 ECC> Quadro FX 4800 (1.5GB) > WD RE4 500GB / Seagate Barracuda 500GB > M-Audio 2496 Sound Card / Linksys WMP600N WiFi > HP 2711X, 27" 1920 X 1080 and Dell 19" LCD > Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit >
[ Passmark system Rating = 1859, CPU = 8528 / 2D= 512 / 3D=1097]

Dell Precision 390 (2006) (Revised): Xeon X3230 quad-core @ 2.67GHz > 8 GB DDR2 ECC 667 > Firepro V4900 (1GB) > 2X WD 320GB >Linksys WMP600N WiFi > Dell 24" > 1920 X 1200 > Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
[ Passmark system rating = 1458, CPU = 3699 / 2D= 431 / 3D=1350 / Mem= 885 / Disk=552]

Dell Dimension E520 (2006)( Revised): Core2 Duo E6700 dual core @2.66GHz > 4GB DDR2 667 > GeForce GT440 (1GB GDDR5) > 2X Dell 19" LCD > Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
[Passmark system rating = 1219, CPU = 2024 / 2D= 457 / 3D=978 / Mem= 828 / Disk=576]

HP Elite m9426f (2007) Core 2 Quad Q6600 @ 2.4GHz > 8GB DDR2 667 > AMD Radeon 6650 > Seagate 750GB > Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit > Dell 17" LCD

Great idea thanks

targetdan · May 16, 2015

Windows has functionality to setup a homegroup so that you can have shared file folders. This might also be an option

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Sync two computer systems together???

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