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Forum Discussion
Backing up and syncing from external HD to the Dropbox folder issues
Hello,
I am getting mixed information from the Dropbox helpdesk and could use some help.
I’m a photographer. I have 6.5Tb of photos stored on my External Drobo hard drive. I work from that hardd...
Danman wrote:
Ok, so are you saying that I could sync my files from my external drive to dropbox and use smart sync to not let them be backed up on my computer. But they will remain on my external drive?
No. Unless you move the Dropbox folder to your external drive, which isn't suggested, there's no way to sync files with your external drive.
What I was saying is that if the Dropbox folder is on your laptop, and you use Selective Sync on a folder, it will be removed from the Dropbox folder and not your external drive. Dropbox can only interact with the Dropbox folder.
In this scenario with Dropbox on your laptop and your files on the external drive, any folders you want stored on Dropbox would need to be MANUALLY copied to the Dropbox folder, allowed to sync completely, and then you could remove them from the Dropbox folder using Selective Sync so they only remain online. Again, this is a MANUAL process where you will need to be vigilant about copying files to and from Dropbox as needed so everything is up to date.
Again, Dropbox will not do what you want it to do with your configuration. It's simply not designed for it. No cloud storage service that I know of will work the way you want it to.
Hello Jane,
Thanks for your reply.
My colleague- Jay- has created this resource that could be helpful if you'd like to back up your files to your account online. Once all your files are synced online as expected, you’ll be able to share them using our website.
Correct me if I misunderstand it but Isn't that a way to create an on line back up only? Like I said: I want to keep the files on my external drive and have them synced to dropbox.
Following, you can also move the Dropbox folder to your external hard drive Daniel, though it would be worth noting that SD cards, or any device considered "Removable media" by your operating system, are not supported locations for the Dropbox folder. Dropbox works best when hosted on your computer's main internal drive, or on a physically connected external hard drive.
Like I said: I have all my files on an external Drobo HD. This is a removable device and I mentioned that it is not always connected to my laptop. I want to work from my external drive when at home and have it sync to Dropbox. And when not at home, on an assignment, I obviously don’t take my Drobo external drive (it’s a big thing). Then I want to work from dropbox on line and have it sync when I reconnect the External drive.
So obviously I can’t move the dropbox folder to the external drive.
I’m wondering whether you’ve had a chance to check out our Selective Sync & Smart Sync features to save up some space & keep only the files you really need available across your devices. Can you have a look here & let me know whether that’s what you’re looking for?
Yes, I did check out selective sync. But like I said: I want to keep the files on my external drive and not be on line only. Your colleague mentioned that when using smart or selective sync my files will deleted from my external drive and be on line only. I don’t want that.
I mentioned this several times in my talk with your colleague.
Last but not least, I ve been able to locate your open correspondence with my colleague on our system & I could see that they're awaiting your reply. I've made sure to include a copy of your comments here, in case you'd like to continue discussing your options via that channel.
Yes, it’s open because he finally responded (after I sent an extra email asking him to respond) when I was asleep. I am in a different time zone, in The Netherlands. Have you read the correspondence? He is constantly coming up with solutions he has mentioned before but don’t work. It’s like he isn’t reading what I have been writing and what the real issue is. And he says it can’t be done but others say it can be done. This is pretty confusing….
And my first contact with Dropbox, who said he was my contact and I should always connect with him with questions doesn’t respond at all anymore. He’s the one who said that there would be no problem at all for me using dropbox the way I want. He suggested the advanced business plan…
I hope that my suggestions make matters a bit more clear to you, though I’m always here if you’d like me to explain any of the above in a bit more depth. Thanks!
I'm sorry, it hasn't made it more clear for me yet. I definitely would like to learn more and hear a definitive answer to my questions.
For some reason it feels like I am asking something strange. Am I the only photographer that wants to keep his files safe and be able to access them on line when working on location?
I mean obviously people who have 6.5Tb (and that’s why I need the unlimited business plan) don’t have it stored on their computer. So it’s on an external drive. All my photography friends work the same. So I can’t put the dropbox folder there, because it’s removable.
And I would be completely crazy if I delete all my files from my External drive and have them on line only. It seems logical to keep them in several places. And there is no way that a wifi connection can keep up with the speed of a Thunderbolt connection when I work from my External Drive. I need the speed but when working on location, it’s ok. It’s logical to do with a bit less then.
Please help!
Kind Regards, Daniel
Rich
Super User II
Super User II
Danman wrote:
Correct me if I misunderstand it but Isn't that a way to create an on line back up only?
Not in the way you're intending, because Dropbox is not a backup service. The entire point of Dropbox is to sync the local copy of your files (in the Dropbox folder on your comptuer) with your account online an any other comptuers linked to your account. Yes, Dropbox has some backup-like feature, but it is a file synchroniation service; not a backup service.
This is a removable device and I mentioned that it is not always connected to my laptop.
If your Dropbox folder is on the external drive, then this can be a dangerous scenario. If the drive is disconnected while Dropbox is running, or Dropbox is started while the drive is disconnected, there's a remote chance, under the right circumstances, that Dropbox could see this as a deletion of your files and sync that deletion to your account online. For this reason, it's highly recommended that Dropbox not sync to an external drive.
Your colleague mentioned that when using smart or selective sync my files will deleted from my external drive and be on line only.
They'll be deleted from the Dropbox folder on your computer. If you keep the files separate (a copy on your external drive, the Dropbox folder on your computer using Selective Sync or Smart Sync), then you'll still have your files on the drive, they won't be on your computer (Dropbox folder) and will be in your account online. But, this isn't a scenario where files will sync. This would be a manual copy from your drive to the Dropbox folder, wait for them to sync, then remove them using Selective Sync or Smart Sync.
Ultimately, what you're asking for isn't something Dropbox can, or is intended to, provide. You could find worakarounds such as the example above where you're manually copying files back and forth so you can use it as a backup, but that's not how it's supposed to work and would be clunky at best.
The intent of Dropbox is that the Dropbox folder is on your local drive, syncing files in your account as you use them, with larges folders removed using Selective Sync or marking files or folders as Online-only using Smart Sync.
Hi Rich,
Not in the way you're intending, because Dropbox is not a backup service. The entire point of Dropbox is to sync the local copy of your files (in the Dropbox folder on your comptuer) with your account online an any other comptuers linked to your account. Yes, Dropbox has some backup-like feature, but it is a file synchroniation service; not a backup service.
Yes, but I do want to synchronise. So that I have the same files on my external drive and on line, in dropbox.
But not on my laptop because it’s too much. And I want to be able to work on line when necessary.
If your Dropbox folder is on the external drive, then this can be a dangerous scenario. If the drive is disconnected while Dropbox is running, or Dropbox is started while the drive is disconnected, there's a remote chance, under the right circumstances, that Dropbox could see this as a deletion of your files and sync that deletion to your account online. For this reason, it's highly recommended that Dropbox not sync to an external drive.
My dropbox folder is not on my external drive. It’s on my laptop. That’s what I am explaining here. The external removable so I can’t put the dropbox folder there.
They'll be deleted from the Dropbox folder on your computer. If you keep the files separate (a copy on your external drive, the Dropbox folder on your computer using Selective Sync or Smart Sync), then you'll still have your files on the drive, they won't be on your computer (Dropbox folder) and will be in your account online. But, this isn't a scenario where files will sync. This would be a manual copy from your drive to the Dropbox folder, wait for them to sync, then remove them using Selective Sync or Smart Sync.
Ultimately, what you're asking for isn't something Dropbox can, or is intended to, provide. You could find worakarounds such as the example above where you're manually copying files back and forth so you can use it as a backup, but that's not how it's supposed to work and would be clunky at best.
The intent of Dropbox is that the Dropbox folder is on your local drive, syncing files in your account as you use them, with larges folders removed using Selective Sync or marking files or folders as Online-only using Smart Sync.
Ok, so are you saying that I could sync my files from my external drive to dropbox and use smart sync to not let them be backed up on my computer. But they will remain on my external drive? That is very important to know. I have gotten mixed information about this. The helpdesk said that they will disappear from my external drive.
You mention that I should first sync them and then use selective or smart sync to delete them from the dropbox folder on my computer. But it’s 6.5Tb. Can I set it to selective sync from the start so they don’t end up there?
Yes, it seems like a hassle to have to work this way (and an expensive option). But at least my files will be safe in case of fire or theft…. Tough decision.
Thanks for your reply!
- Rich
Danman wrote:
Ok, so are you saying that I could sync my files from my external drive to dropbox and use smart sync to not let them be backed up on my computer. But they will remain on my external drive?
No. Unless you move the Dropbox folder to your external drive, which isn't suggested, there's no way to sync files with your external drive.
What I was saying is that if the Dropbox folder is on your laptop, and you use Selective Sync on a folder, it will be removed from the Dropbox folder and not your external drive. Dropbox can only interact with the Dropbox folder.
In this scenario with Dropbox on your laptop and your files on the external drive, any folders you want stored on Dropbox would need to be MANUALLY copied to the Dropbox folder, allowed to sync completely, and then you could remove them from the Dropbox folder using Selective Sync so they only remain online. Again, this is a MANUAL process where you will need to be vigilant about copying files to and from Dropbox as needed so everything is up to date.
Again, Dropbox will not do what you want it to do with your configuration. It's simply not designed for it. No cloud storage service that I know of will work the way you want it to.
You might want to look into Carbonite.
