Question 1

How do I set up bitpocket to sync automatically with cron?

Accepted Answer

Add a line like '*/5 * * * * cd ~/BitPocket && nice ~/bin/bitpocket cron' to your crontab. You'll need to generate a passphrase-less SSH key in the .bitpocket directory and configure it in the config file for unattended access, as explained in the README.

Question 2

Bitpocket vs rsync: which is better for two-way sync?

Accepted Answer

Bitpocket builds on rsync by tracking local changes to handle deletions correctly in both directions, whereas plain rsync can delete files unintentionally in two-way sync. Use bitpocket for reliable bidirectional sync; rsync for one-way or simple transfers.

Question 3

Does bitpocket work on Windows?

Accepted Answer

Bitpocket is a bash script, so it requires a Unix-like environment. On Windows, you can use it with WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) or Cygwin, but native support is not provided, limiting its out-of-the-box usability.

Question 4

How to exclude files like .log or temporary files from sync?

Accepted Answer

Create a .bitpocket/exclude file in your sync directory and add patterns such as '*.log'. These follow rsync exclusion rules, so refer to the rsync manual for advanced options like absolute paths.

Question 5

What happens if I modify a file on both local and remote between syncs?

Accepted Answer

Bitpocket will back up both versions before overwriting, but it doesn't merge changes. You'll need to manually resolve conflicts by checking the timestamped backup directories, as there's no automatic conflict resolution.

Question 6

Can I use bitpocket to sync with multiple remote servers?

Accepted Answer

No, bitpocket is designed for a single master-slave model with one remote server. For syncing across multiple servers, you'd need to set up separate bitpocket instances or consider a tool like Unison.

Question 7

How do I enable backups for remote files in bitpocket?

Accepted Answer

Edit the .bitpocket/config file and set REMOTE_BACKUPS=true. By default, only local backups are enabled, but this allows creating backups on the remote server as well, though it requires additional configuration.

bitpocket

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