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Most conventional approaches can only sync one way between 2 systems. However, Resilio Active Everywhere<\/strong><\/a> (formerly Resilio Connect) offers fast, reliable, and efficient bidirectional synchronization across as many systems and sites as needed, including the cloud.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this article, we\u2019ll discuss traditional approaches to one- and two-way synchronization. Then, we\u2019ll explore why businesses need bidirectional sync capabilities and how Resilio Platform delivers them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Resilio Platform can sync file changes in any direction across your entire environment quickly and efficiently, regardless of physical distance, file size, or file numbers (we\u2019ve successfully synced 450+ million files in a single job).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Resilio Platform uses P2P (peer-to-peer) replication to sync environments 3\u201310x faster than traditional solutions. <\/strong>It also scales organically, eliminates single points of failure, and has built-in security features, making it an incredibly reliable sync solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Organizations in gaming (Bungie, 2K Games), media (Sunrise, Warner Brothers, CBS), technology (Microsoft, Match), retail (McDonald\u2019s, Mercedes-Benz), and more use Resilio Platform to sync their data in real-time and any direction. To see Resilio in action, <\/em>schedule a demo<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Most conventional replication technologies offer one-way synchronization from a single data source (system 1) to a single target (system 2). Tools like Rsync, for example, can efficiently (depending on the payload, network, and other factors) sync one way between 2 systems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n One-way sync is popular and serves a purpose. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Storage replication products (like Isilon SyncIQ and NetApp SnapMirror<\/a>) offer one-way sync based on point-in-time snapshots initiated in their file systems. So, one-way sync may suffice to protect your data for use cases like Disaster Recovery<\/a> (depending on your RPO or RTO) or basic server-to-server or storage-to-storage backup. But if the customers\u2019 DR goals are for faster RTOs and lower RPOs \u2014 and synchronizing files across more than two sites \u2014 these solutions may not be a good fit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Other tools that support bidirectional sync are Unison<\/a>, Aspera Sync<\/a>, and Microsoft DFSR<\/a>. These are limited by their point-to-point (client-server) architecture, among other caveats like the prospect of file corruption or data loss. <\/p>\n\n\n\n These implementations limit the two-way sync to at most two systems. Thus, only those users and apps accessing those two systems will benefit from two-way sync. Worse, each system is a performance bottleneck and a single point of failure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At best, point-to-point two-way sync enables a classic hub-and-spoke: the hub is the source, and each spoke is the target. The benefit of the hub and spoke is that updates can be relayed from the hub (source) to the spokes (targets) and vice versa. This obviously does not scale. Worse, each spoke is land-locked from the other spokes; all traffic must go through the hub. So implementers, beware: the hub is a performance bottleneck and a single point of failure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Point-to-point architectures are generally helpful for certain use cases but greatly limit how you can move and sync data. (Here\u2019s a good comparison of point-to-point vs. peer-to-peer<\/a>.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n Other potential problems with point-to-point two-way sync tools include poor reliability, poor management and monitoring, and lack of conflict resolution and diagnostics tools. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Businesses and organizations of all types and sizes need their file-based data sets protected, current, and readily available when and where they are needed. Your business processes and workflows should determine when bidirectional sync is needed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Generally, the most current files should be continuously available to users, applications, and workflows. For many shops, when data stops, business stops. Organizations use Resilio Active Everywhere’s bidirectional sync capabilities to keep their files current and accessible across multiple locations.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are a few real-life examples and use cases:<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n One thing to note is that Resilio is designed to sync files, not different databases (such as CRM, Salesforce, mySQL, etc.). We have had customers sync their entire database files when virtualized in a file \u2014 but that is not a topic of discussion in this blog. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n At Resilio, we believe that bidirectional synchronization is a differentiated replication capability that should \u201cjust work\u201d and not be limited to only 2 servers. That\u2019s why our solution for bidirectional sync is built on a P2P architecture. This highly reliable design enables multiple servers (or other endpoints running Resilio agents) to participate in the sync process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Resilio\u2019s P2P architecture results in three key benefits:<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n In a P2P scenario, every device in your environment can take part in data synchronization. This removes the need for cloud hopping \u2014 i.e., sending the data to a central server first before syncing with the other servers \u2014 and enables you to utilize the full bandwidth of your entire environment to achieve faster sync. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition, Resilio uses file chunking to split files into smaller pieces that can be transferred independently. This process results in transfer and sync speeds that are 3\u201310x faster than traditional solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n Resilio\u2019s P2P architecture and file chunking capabilities enable any-directional sync<\/strong> \u2014 you can sync files one-way, two-way, one-to-many, many-to-one, and N-way.<\/p>\n\n\n One of the biggest issues with traditional transfer and sync solutions is that they create single points of failure. However, Resilio\u2019s P2P architecture eliminates single points of failure, making our solution ideal for disaster recovery.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If one device in your environment fails, Resilio can always access data from the others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When recovering from a server failure, power outage, or another disaster, Resilio can also use all your servers and help you achieve sub-five-second RPOs (Recovery Point Objectives) and RTOs (Recovery Time Objectives) within minutes of an outage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These capabilities enable you to use Resilio for a variety of disaster recovery<\/a> scenarios, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n Resilio Active Everywhere’s P2P architecture makes it an organically scalable solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because every device in your environment acts as a hub, adding more demand automatically creates more supply. For example, Resilio can synchronize data 50% faster than point-to-point solutions in a 1:2 scenario and 500% faster in a 1:10 scenario.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This makes our software incredibly valuable for applications that rely on serving the right data at the right time to many geographically dispersed users. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Polling the file system or listening for file change notifications is a key enabler of real-time sync. All systems should be able to efficiently capture and replicate only the changed portion of the file during the two-way sync.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s why Resilio automatically detects and only syncs the changed portion of your files across the network, making it a very efficient sync solution. Plus, Resilio lets you reduce unnecessary data movements and improve efficiency even more by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Resilio Platform can synchronize your files and deltas across any type of network and is resilient to failures. This is possible thanks to Zero Gravity Transport\u2122 (ZGT) \u2014 our proprietary WAN acceleration protocol<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n ZGT is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, our client Shifo provides health data solutions to over 3000 communities<\/a> across eight countries. Their teams often have to transfer data across networks with low bandwidth and poor connectivity. Thanks to Resilio, they now reliably sync patient data from remote locations with their headquarters and reduce their file delivery times from months to days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want a more detailed look into the topic of WAN optimization, check out:<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n There should never be data loss or data corruption during the two-way data synchronization, no matter how large the data set. If there\u2019s a conflict accessing a file, the system should preserve data integrity. When files or deltas are in transit across the network, data integrity should also be preserved during the sync process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As we mentioned, Resilio\u2019s P2P architecture and proprietary WAN optimization technology play a big role here. However, our solution also comes with built-in security features, like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n These and all other Resilio data protection features have been verified by 3rd-party security experts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Resilio offers an easy-to-use management console that lets you create and manage data sync jobs and gives you full visibility into their progress. At the same time, you can also use Resilio\u2019s powerful REST API to configure any type of scripting or functionality your sync job requires.<\/p>\n\n\n The console enables automation for endpoint bandwidth automation and lets you adjust key parameters like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n You can receive notifications (e.g., via email or a webhook connector) to stay up-to-date with the sync process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Besides making it easy to set up and control sync jobs, Resilio Platform drastically simplifies file access. <\/strong>Our solution can work as a file gateway that overcomes data silos by enabling simple, low-latency access to all files (regardless of where they\u2019re stored) from an interface that operates much like Microsoft OneDrive.<\/p>\n\n\n Finally, our solution works with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n This, combined with the ease of use and centralized management, makes it painless to incorporate Resilio into your existing workflows. Instead of managing new hardware, you can just install Resilio on your existing infrastructure \u2014 including servers, desktops, edge devices, and more \u2014 and start syncing data in as little as two hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Resilio Platform gives you the flexibility to enable bidirectional synchronization across as many servers and sites as needed. This opens up opportunities for global file collaboration, real-time server sync, and active-active high availability across sites in support of HA and DR, and much more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With Resilio Active Everywhere, you can:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nOne-Way Sync<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Basic Point-to-Point Two-Way Sync<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
High-Level Business Needs for Bidirectional Sync<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Reliable Bidirectional Sync at Scale <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. High-Speed Sync<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Efficient Real-Time Sync<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Reliable Sync Across any Network with Built-In WAN Optimization<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Centralized Management and Flexibility<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Fast, Reliable Bidirectional Sync and More with Resilio<\/h2>\n\n\n\n