When the Recent Master Copy rule is selected for a synchronization, SureSync will copy the file from the source path over the destination files only if the source file has a more recent modification date. A Recent Master Copy rule does not perform any deletions from the destination path.
With a Recent Master Copy rule, users can make changes to the destination path and not have those changes wiped out the next time the job runs. For example, if a user adds a subdirectory to the root being synchronized with SureSync, the subfolder and files will be left alone the next time the synchronization is run. However, if the same subfolder is created on the source and the files in that subfolder have a newer time and date stamp then the files from the source would be synchronized to the destination.
Users are often unclear about the difference between a Recent Master Copy and a Differing Master Copy rule. This difference is very subtle and related to when SureSync will replace a file on the destination. With a Recent Master Copy, the source file is only replicated if the modified date of that file is newer than the modified date on the destination. A Differing Master Copy will replicate the source file if the modified date is different in away way, older or newer, than the destination file.
Please note:
Any changes made only to a destination file will either prevent it from be overwritten the next time the files are synchronized (if the destination file was changed more recently than the source file) or will be overwritten without warning (if the source fileis more recent than the destination file). Thus, if there is a permanent change you want to make it must be made to the source file.
This method does not delete files. If you delete the source file manually, the destination files will be left as is at the next synchronization (they will not be deleted or replaced). If you delete a destination file manually, the next time the files are synchronized a new copy from the source will be synchronized to the destination. If you want the ability to propagate deletes in a one-way rule, you must choose the mirror rule.
Possible Scenarios
Disaster Recovery and Backups
SureSync is commonly used for disaster recovery and backup purposes. You can run a Schedule or a Real-Time Monitor with a Recent Master Copy rule and protect file changes which occur between tape backups or drive images. The Recent Master Copy rule is ideal for this purpose because the destination files are not deleted if the source file is deleted. For example, if a user accidentally deletes a file from the source, you can still get the file back from the destination when using this rule type.
Allow proposed changes to files to be made
The Recent Master Copy rule can be used to maintain a file share where users can make changes to files and not have them wiped out by the source copy like you would experience with a Mirror rule. This can be useful in some situations. For example, if you have a set of template files and one office would like to make a proposed change to the template. If that change is approved, the administrator could place a copy of the changed file in the source to distribute it to all paths.
Summary Chart
The summary chart will give you a breakdown of how the Recent Master Copy rule functions when different events occur.
Event
Action Taken
If a file is added or changed on the source
Add new files. Replace file on destination with a copy from source, if the source file date is later than destination. Otherwise, no action.
If a file is deleted from the source
No action.
If a file changes on a destination
Replace file on destination with a copy from source, if the source file date is later than destination. Otherwise, no action.
Users are often unclear about the difference between a Recent Master Copy and a Differing Master Copy rule. This difference is very subtle and related to when SureSync will replace a file on the destination. With a Recent Master Copy, the source file is only replicated if the modified date of that file is newer than the modified date on the destination. A Differing Master Copy will replicate the source file if the modified date is different in away way, older or newer, than the destination file.