How to Install Resilio Sync on Ubuntu/Linux Mint

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Overview


Resilio Sync (formerly BitTorrent Sync) by Resilio, Inc. is a proprietary peer-to-peer file synchronization tool. It supports a wide range of platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Windows Phone, Amazon Kindle Fire, and BSD. The tool allows seamless synchronization of files between devices on a local network or across remote devices over the Internet, utilizing a modified version of the BitTorrent protocol.

Why Resilio Sync?


After three months of personal experience with Resilio Sync, I can confidently say it’s one of the best solutions for syncing multiple computers remotely. The combination of its speed, reliability, and ease of use makes it a standout choice for file synchronization.

Installing Resilio Sync on Ubuntu
This guide will walk you through the installation process for Resilio Sync on Ubuntu. The instructions should also work on any Linux distribution derived from Ubuntu.

Step 1: Download Resilio Sync

To get started, download the Resilio Sync package for Linux from the official website: Download Resilio Sync.

Step 2: Install Resilio Sync

After downloading the package, install it using the following command:

sudo dpkg -i resilio-sync*.debCode language: CSS (css)

Step 3: Set Up Permissions

After downloading, set the required permissions for Resilio Sync to ensure it operates correctly. Run the following command in your terminal:

sudo setfacl -R -m "u:rslsync:rwx" $HOMECode language: PHP (php)

This command grants the necessary read, write, and execute permissions to the rslsync user for your home directory. Adjust the directory path as needed based on your file structure.

Step 4: Configure Systemd for Automatic Startup

By default, the Sync service runs under the rslsync user with minimum privileges for security reasons. To enable automatic startup of the Sync service under the rslsync user, use the following command:

sudo systemctl enable resilio-sync

If you need to synchronize files owned by the current user, add the rslsync user to the group of your current user and ensure read-write permissions for the group on the folder to be synced. Use the following commands:

sudo usermod -aG user_group rslsync
sudo usermod -aG rslsync user_name
sudo chmod g+rw synced_folder

Here:

  • user_group is the group name of the current user (by default, it is the same as the username, which can be checked by running the id command).
  • synced_folder is the path to the folder to be added to Sync.
  • user_name is the name of the current user.

Final Thoughts
Resilio Sync is a powerful tool for anyone who needs a robust and flexible file synchronization solution. Whether syncing files locally or across remote devices, it offers unmatched performance and simplicity. Give it a try and experience the convenience of seamless file sharing.