Set up the syncthing binary
On Linux or OSX:
- Download the appropriate binary from http://syncthing.net/
- Copy the “syncthing” binary to a useful location in your PATH (e.g. /usr/local/bin) and then run the program from a terminal as your default user (no sudo!). This will generate a bunch of spew. It might take a few minutes, as it needs to generate a high-complexity RSA key.
- Next, open a browser and go to: 127.0.0.1:8080
Windows:
- Download the syncthing-GTK client: https://github.com/syncthing/syncthing-gtk/releases
- Unpack and run the syncthing-GTK binary.
- Follow the setup wizard. When the initial set up is done, you should have a control window up.
- If there is a problem downloading the daemon, you can use the following hack:
- Download the windows binary from http://syncthing.net/
- Unzip the zip file.
- Rename the unzipped directory to “syncthing” and move to “C:\Program Files\”
- Re-run the syncthing-GTK binary.
Set up the share
1. Create a new device connecting to the lab server.
- Click “Add Device”. Give it the following Device ID (the lab server’s public key)
ZKJCCYT-7ZJB4MQ-6UABJDJ-NCSWVJU-ZFW447J-343M732-U2ICOJJ-TEKK6A4 - You can give it whatever name you want, but “spock” might make sense. The other settings can remain the defaults.
2. Specify the local folder you want to share.
- Click “Add Folder”.
- Set the “Folder name” to last_first (harms_mike, in my case). This folder name must be unique.
- Specify the “Folder Path” to be whatever folder you want to synchronize on your local computer.
- Finally, click the checkbox to share this folder with the device you made for the lab server. The other settings can remain the defaults.
3. Contact the lab computer czar to connect your share with the server.
- Go to the “gear” icon at the top right and click “Show ID.”
- Send this long alphanumeric string, as well as your folder name, to the current lab computer czar. They will add a share for you on the server that will the automatically sync.
Configure syncthing to start automatically
Windows:
- Go to the syncthing icon on the top left and select “UI settings.”
- Select “Start Syncthing-GTK when I log into my desktop” and “Minimize to tray at start”
- Go to the gear icon on the top right and unselect “Open browser with WebUI when daemon is starting.”
Linux:
Check out the following thread, as it’s a bit distro-specific: https://discourse.syncthing.net/t/keeping-syncthing-running-upstart/403
Mac:
Inside of the distributed zip file, there is an “etc/macosx-launchd” directory that has instructions for getting things rolling on the Mac.