SyncToy, File Synchronization and the Microsoft Sync Framework

A common question we get in the Data Replication and Synchronization group regarding the Microsoft Sync Framework is if there are any existing deployments of this technology.  Although there are many components within the Microsoft Sync Framework which enable synchronization of any data source, one key piece I would like to focus on is Sync Services for File System which enables file synchronization in both offline and collaboration environments.  Although this technology is still in CTP, a number of technologies have already begun implementing it as the core mechanism for file synchronization between desktops, usb thumb drives and even over the internet.  One example is SyncToy 2.0 Beta.  SyncToy is a free tool which helps you copy, move, rename, and delete files between folders and computers quickly. As a side note, this release is called beta simply because Sync Services for File Systems is still in CTP and has not yet been released.  Believe me, it was tested as thoroughly as any previous release.

At the core of SyncToy is Sync Services for File Systems.  Although initially created as a tool to enable photographers to keep images in sync over devices and computers, users have since started to use to synchronization other files such as documents, browser favorites, multimedia, spreadsheets and for some corporations even large CAD drawings.  You can think of SyncToy as a nice UI wrapper built on top of Sync Services for File Systems.

Since SyncToy has been downloaded well over 2 million times, it has been an amazing test of the core Sync Framework and as such, enabled us to build a solid technology for synchronizing anything whether that be data, files or services. 

I welcome you to download SyncToy 2.0 Beta and participate in our new SyncToy forum  which has just been added to the existing Microsoft Sync Forum forum group.

Liam Cavanagh - Data Replication and Synchronization Group