Logging

Logging in RsyncOSX might be switched on/off in user configuration. All log records are listed in table within Logs tab. The log records are by default sorted with most recent ontop. Log records can be filtered by date by search field. Any column can be sorted by selecting the appropriate column. The sort direction, ascending or descending, is selected by direction of the arrow. Log records can be selected for delete as well.

Menuapp

The menu app is available for download together with RsyncOSX. The menu app is a scaled down and minimal app for executing scheduled tasks in RsyncOSX. It executes as a menu app and keeps track on next task to execute. The app is monitoring all schedules in all profiles. Scheduled tasks are added in RsyncOSX. RsyncOSX does not execute scheduled tasks. Scheduled tasks are only added and deleted within RsyncOSX. The menu app is a simple app with a few screens.

Passwordless logins by ssh-keys

RsyncOSX utilizes user set ssh keypath and identityfile. Default values for ssh are ~/.ssh/id_rsa and portnumber 22. It is not required to set your own values for key path and identityfile if default values are used. The ssh parameter within the rsync command is, if set by the user: -e "ssh -i ~/.ssh_keypath/identityfile -p NN" where -i ~/.ssh_keypath/identityfile is the ssh keypath and identityfile and -p NN is the port number ssh communicates through, default port 22

Restore files

A restore of files should always be executed carefully. It is only allowed to do a restore of files to a temporary restore catalog. To set a temporary restore path select userconfiguration and set temporary path restore. There are two types of restore: full restore restore by files if the remote is a snapshot the list of files might be huge, depends upon how many snapshots and how many files in a snapshot A restore always start with selecting the task and then the Filelist button.

Rsync daemon setup

With a few tweaks it is possible to get RsyncOSX working with rsync daemon. Be aware of not utilizing ssh, transfer of data is not encrypted. This is might not a problem on a local network, but I would not advise it on a public network. Also be aware of snapshot is not possible with a rsync daemon setup. Setting up a rsync daemon setup require a server side setup and some tweaks in RsyncOSX.

RsyncOSX config files

RsyncOSX stores its configurations, schedules and log records and user configurations as JSON files. The storage of those files is: $HOME/.rsyncosx/macserialnumber In the About the used path for configuration files is shown. RsyncOSX evaluates the computer mac serial number at startup. Configuration files $HOME/.rsyncosx/macserialnumber/configurations.json If profile is utilized: $HOME/.rsyncosx/macserialnumber/profile/configurations.json Schedules and log records $HOME/.rsyncosx/macserialnumber/schedules.json If profile is utilized: $HOME/.rsyncosx/macserialnumber/profile/schedules.json User configurations The user configurations is stored as: $HOME/.rsyncosx/macserialnumber/rsyncosxconfig.json The user settings applies to all profiles.

RsyncOSX default parameters

RsyncOSX implements default parameters which are working fine for simple synchronize and restore tasks. The actual parameters used in tasks are depended upon executing rsync over network connection or not. Which standard parameters to use is computed during startup of application by reading the configuration file. The user can also remove default parameters if required. Default rsync parameters The following parameters are applied to all tasks: --archive ensures that all files are transferred with all attributes preserved --verbose make rsync very outspoken, required for counting files in RsyncOSX --delete delete all files at destination which are not in the source this parameter also applies when restoring files, always do a restore to a temporary restore catalog Default rsync parameters networked tasks only The following parameters are for networked tasks only.

Scheduled task

By default the schedules part is not enabled, enable it in the userconfig. The view for adding and delete schedules is from the schedules button from the main view. adding and deleting schedules within RsyncOSX executing scheduled tasks by the menu app (shortcut ⌘S) There are three types of schedules: once is executed once at date and time given daily is executed every 24-hour from a selected date weekly as for daily, but every 7 day from a selected date The user can set multiple schedules on one task.

Signing and notarization

RsyncOSX is signed with my Apple ID developer certificate and notarized by Apple. This means that the app is verified and checked for not containing malicious code and it will work with Apples Gatekeeper technology. From macOS 10.15 Catalina, notarizing is required for all software. The message is “Apple checked it for malicious software and none was detected.” You can also verify the signing by utilizing xcode developer tools. If you have Xcode developer tools installed, by executing the following command you can verify RsyncOSX:

Snapshots

Utilizing snapshot is an effective method for restore of previous versions of data and deleted files. Snapshot utilize hardlinks and only changed and deleted files are saved as separate files in a snapshot. Files which are not changed are hardlinks to the original file. If a file.txt is saved in snapshot number one and never changed or deleted, the file file.txt in the latest snapshot is just a hardlink to the original file.