Synchronise folders on different Macs using rsync I am trying to synchronise two different folders using rsync. I have copied all the data worth 4Tb from a network share to an external hdd using rsync -v -r /source /destination. Now I need to run regular backup to sync both the locations. Can anyone suggest rsync command which I can use to synchronise both the folders.
The best way is to continue to use rsync so as to maintain /destination synchronized with /source.

1st run:

rsync -avE /source /destination


next runs:

rsync -avE /source /destination


The -a option = --archive == -rlptgoD.

The -E option means copy extended attributes and ACL, and is mandatory on HFS+ filesystems.

Warning: the standard version of rsync on OS X, version 2.6.9 (see rsync --version) still
have problems with extended attributes.
These problems will be shown thanks to the -v option.

A verification of the output of rsync is mandatory.

This version 2.6.9 is too old and causing too many problems.



I advise any user willing to maintain in sync directories between
different Macs (or between a Mac and another Unix machine) to install
rsync version 3.1.2.

Here is the method I use:


install MacPorts: MacPorts home page


go to the Quickstart section, install Xcode 
choose the right version to install (Mavericks, Yosemite or El Capitan)

Upgrade your PATH so as to find the port command in it
for example, I installed it in /local/bin and modified my PATH
like this:

PATH=/local/bin:${PATH}
export PATH

Install rsync 3.1.2:

port install rsync



With this version of rsync, the right options to use will be:

rsync -avAX /source /destination


and if you read me thus far, you are pretty good enough now to read

man rsync


to get the light from the source.