Hi.

If I install Linux Mint 17 MATE 64-bit on my Desktop PC and laptop - Will syncing all files (including config files) from my desktop (one way sync) be fine for the laptop? I've got the same username on both but different passwords.

Thanks.

config files shouldn't include linux login passwords,..
I acutualy copied whole home folder. watch for permissions and everything should be fine.

Hi yooy.

I'd use Grsync and check the box 'Preserve permissions'. Would that be ok?

I presume that if PC#1 has Mint 17 Mate and PC#2 had Mint 17 Xfce - that trouble could happen? But if both desktop environments are the same it should be smooth-running?

Syncing the /home directory is one thing, but if you try to copy everything I imagine you'll run into a lot of problems. There are certain things that just SHOULDN'T be copied, such as fstab (which typically has UUID entries that would break the second system), entries in /boot, /proc, /dev, etc. Even if they're running the exact same OS, there is a lot of information in those config files that is hardware-dependent. MAC addresses, device names/UUIDs, and so on. Unless you're VERY careful about what does and does not get transferred, you're going to have to do a LOT of cleaning up in the recovery console.

i agree, you should copy programs hidden config folders, like firefox folder in home and etc. not whole home folder.

My practice regarding configuration files and directories when installing new is to back up only the ones that I have modified (for example, the configuration files and mail store for my email program and for my desktop environment, assuming I will be using the same ones).

If I have left the files at default, there's no reason to save them.

Is the point of syncing a way to make both systems equal or are you trying to make a backup of sorts?

I would only sync home folder files - nothing from root.

---------- Post added 17-07-14 at 02:52 PM ----------

Hi jefro.

Yes, make both systems the same. The backup part is good too.

Syncing the home folder generally won't cause many, if any problems, provided the two systems are close enough in architecture that your startup scripts and config file locations will be the same. Just make sure your user on the two systems has the same UID and preserve the permissions when you copy ("rsync -a" or similar).

Is UID the same as username? It's the same on both computers. On Grsync, I check the box 'Preserve permissions'.

I remember a while back, I synced my home dir with all config files to my other PC which had a different DE. It caused problems. I presume that is because the Desktop Environments differed?

No, UID is user id. All permissions in Linux are done by UID, the name is just used for display purposes. If you open a terminal and type "id", it will tell you your UID.

What kind of problems did the sync cause? Remember, this will not just make the second machine look like the first, it will essentially turn the second machine into the first (at least as far as display, config, etc. goes). Your system, as it looked previously, will cease to exist. You need to make sure you have the correct DE installed, the correct programs installed, etc. and you can not be logged into the second machine when you do the copy.

It's not really any different than the people who put /home on a separate partition and then upgrade their OS. They're installing the OS from scratch, but keeping /home untouched, so when they log in they're using /home from the previous installation. Usually it works just fine. I've done this, as well as rsyncing my home directory from one machine to another, without issue.

I don't recall exactly but they were more of a nuisance that a show stopper.

PC#1 is a Desktop PC and PC#2 is a laptop so have different resolutions, etc.

So to recap, both must have the same UID (which they have) and all is fine with syncing the complete home folders? Should I omit any home folder hidden files in particular?

I guess another safer way would be to sync all files from my home dir such as ~/Documents ~/Videos etc. and selectively sync things like .mozilla .thunderbird etc. That way there should be zero problems even if there were different desktop environments on each PC. How would I backup all in home dir bar all hidden files except for e.g .mozilla .thunderbird? Maybe it would be best to pick 2 different profiles in Grsync or some other backup app.

luckyBackup looks like a good option. I could use that with Grsync.