B-Folders - synchronization

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Introduction

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B-Folders - synchronization

The synchronization technology of B-Folders

B-Folders provides an advanced and extraordinary synchronization technology. It allows you to keep your data consistent on multiple (more than two!) locations - desktop computers, laptops, smartphones and tablets. This way you will have all your most valued information always with you - at work, at home or on the road. Whatever changes you make - create, edit, move, reorder or delete - are detected and synchronized. The technology is peer-to-peer and no Web or cloud services are used.

This consistency is achieved by performing sync sessions, each between two peers over USB cable, wireless (Wi-Fi, 3G) or wired network. This way you can sync your laptop with your desktop, your smartphone with your desktop, your tablet with your smartphone, etc. You can change which works best depending upon your location and available devices.

Sync sessions are always encrypted so you can use whatever network is available - Wi-Fi, Ethernet or even public hotspots.

B-Folders also provides a feature that allows a peer to discover other peers on the same network - like radar. When a peer is discovered, it can immediately participate in a sync session by single click - no need to enter an IP address or port.

Common scenarios

Sync Scenario 3G

Basics

Each sync session involves two peers - one initiating the session by sending a sync request and the other accepting and serving the sync request. If the serving peer is busy, for example, editing an item, it will refuse the request. The sync progress is displayed on the peer initiating the sync session. The two peers must use the same password in order to exchange data so there is certainty that both belong to the same person.

Syncing over USB cable

Only the database on the SD card can be synced over the USB cable. The internal storage of Android devices is not accessible over USB, so a database stored there can only be synced over a network - Wi-Fi or 3G. Sync sessions over the USB cable must be initiated on the computer.

Tutorial

Android device-Computer syncing over USB cable

Syncing over a network

Security

each sync session is only between the two participating peers - no central server or internet/cloud service is used
synchronization data being exchanged during the sync session is transferred over a TLS (formerly SSL) connection which provides encryption and data consistency
the discovery feature is provided by a component separate from the synchronization and database. This component knows and provides only the name, IP address, port and software version information in an unencrypted format so other peers on the same network can see it without providing a password