I have a remote server that holds all the data, and a local server that I only want to use for part of the data I’m actively working on. I’m using Syncthing to keep the two servers in sync.
For example:
Remote server: folder_a and folder_b
Local server: folder_a (while ignoring folder_b)
When I want to switch and work on folder_b, I ignore folder_a and un-ignore folder_b.
The issue is: if I delete folder_a (even after it’s been ignored), Syncthing still registers that deletion. So, when I later un-ignore folder_a, it also deletes folder_a from the remote server.
My goal is to make a folder remote-only, just to free up space locally, without triggering deletion on the remote server.
I found a workaround in this forum post, but it’s a bit complex.
So, what’s the best way to remove folder_a locally without propagating the deletion globally?
Syncthing is intended to synchronize folders between devices.
I think that what you are trying to do is pushing the limits of Syncthing a bit.
“If you need a trick/workaround for tool to do what you want it to do, you are using the wrong tool.”
I would guess the closest you can get is sharing both folder_a and folder_b separate and setting them on receive only on your local machine. and pausing/ unpausing when what you need.
I concur that using two separate folders in Syncthing is a better approach than ignoring. If the goal is to remove the folder locally anyway, then the share can also be removed from Syncthing. Adding it back later needs to download everything from the remote again, which is just what happens when adding it again as a fresh folder (only locally).
If you don’t want to reconfigure it each time, then it’s still easier to switch the folder mode. As receive-only when you start working on it and need the red “Revert Local Changes” button to get back in sync with the remote. And when you’re done with it locally, before you start deleting it. But while you work on it, set it to send-receive, to propagate changes back to the remote server.
That’s less far from what Syncthing was made to do, thus should cause fewer headaches than fiddling with ignores.