Unison for File Synchronisation: Examples and Explanations

Unison is an open-source file synchronisation tool that allows you to keep two directories perfectly synchronised. It can be useful in many situations, such as synchronising files between a desktop computer and a laptop, backing up files to a cloud storage server, or sharing files between different users on a network.

Synchronising a Local Folder

To use Unison, you must first install it on each computer or device you want to synchronise. Unison is available for most operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. You can download the latest version of Unison from the official website of the tool.

Once you have installed Unison on each device you wish to synchronise, you can use the command line to start the synchronisation. Here’s an example command to synchronise two directories stored on your desktop computer:

unison /home/user/documents /home/user/backup

This command will synchronise the /home/user/documents directory with the /home/user/backup directory. Any files that are present in one of these directories but not the other will be added or deleted to ensure that the two directories are in perfect synchronisation.

Synchronising a Remote Folder

Unison can also be used to synchronise files between two remote computers or devices. To do this, you need to configure both computers to connect to each other via SSH. Once SSH is set up, you can use a command similar to the one above but replace the local directory path with the IP address or hostname of the remote computer.

For example, to synchronise files between two remote computers, you can run the following command:EnregistrerCopier

unison /home/user/documents ssh://user@remote-server//home/user/documents

In this example, the /home/user/documents directory on your local computer will be synchronised with the /home/user/documents directory on the remote computer named remote-server.

There are many options available that you can use to customise the way Unison synchronises files.

Overview of Main Home Automation Protocols

There are many communication protocols used in the field of home automation to connect and control the devices and services in your home. Here are some of the most commonly used protocols, along with their typical usage frequencies:

  • Z-Wave:
    Z-Wave is a wireless communication protocol that uses radio frequency to allow devices to communicate with each other. It operates on a radio frequency of 868 MHz in Europe and 908 MHz in North America. It is very popular in the field of home automation due to its low energy consumption and extended range.
  • Zigbee:
    Zigbee is another wireless communication protocol that uses radio frequency to enable devices to communicate. It operates on a radio frequency of 2.4 GHz. It is also highly popular in the home automation sector due to its low power consumption and extended range.
  • Wi-Fi:
    Wi-Fi is a wireless communication protocol that uses radio waves to enable devices to communicate with a local network or the Internet. It operates on radio frequencies of 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz. It is very commonly used in homes and businesses to connect devices such as computers, mobile phones, and smart home devices.
  • 433 MHz:
    The 433 MHz wireless communication protocol is one of the most widely used in the field of home automation. It operates on a radio frequency of 433 MHz to allow devices to communicate with each other. This frequency is in the medium wave band, which is used for short-distance data transmission.
  • LAN:
    LAN (Local Area Network) is a communication protocol that allows devices to communicate with each other on a local network, such as a business or home network. It uses network cables or wireless technologies to connect devices to one another.
  • Infrared:
    Infrared is a communication protocol that uses invisible light waves to allow devices to communicate with each other. It is commonly used in remote controls and smart home devices such as thermostats and motion detectors.
  • Bluetooth:
    Bluetooth is a wireless communication protocol that uses radio waves to allow devices to communicate with each other over short distances. It is widely used in portable devices such as mobile phones and Bluetooth speakers. Bluetooth operates on a frequency of 2.4 GHz to transmit data.
  • EnOcean:
    EnOcean is a wireless communication protocol that uses ambient energy, such as light or movement, to power and transmit data between devices. It is often used in smart home devices such as motion sensors and wireless switches. EnOcean operates on a frequency of 315 MHz or 868 MHz to transmit data.

It is important to choose the communication protocol that best suits your needs and smart home environment. If you need to connect devices over short distances, like portable devices, Bluetooth may be a good option. If you want to use devices powered by ambient energy, EnOcean might be a solution. If you need to connect devices to a local network or the Internet, Wi-Fi may be the most suitable choice. Ultimately, the choice of communication protocol depends on your needs and smart home setup. Note that the cost of sensors may vary significantly depending on the protocol.

In my case, the priorities in my setup are, in order of importance: Zigbee, Wi-Fi, LAN, and Bluetooth.

Home Assistant: Open-source Home Automation

Home Assistant is an open-source home automation software that allows you to centralise and control all connected devices and services in your house. With Home Assistant, you can create automations for your home, monitor its real-time status, and control your devices remotely.

Home Assistant is compatible with many communication protocols, devices, and services such as Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Nest, Philips Hue, and many others. You can easily add new devices and services using Home Assistant’s built-in “Marketplace.”

One of the greatest strengths of Home Assistant is its active and constantly growing community. You can find help and support on the online community forums, where many users share their configurations and automations. There are also numerous tutorials and guides available to help you get started with Home Assistant.

Home Assistant is also highly customisable. You can adjust the appearance of the interface by using pre-built themes or by creating your own. Additionally, you can create custom views to display your home’s status in the form of dashboards, widgets, and graphs.

In summary, Home Assistant is an excellent open-source home automation solution that allows you to centralise and control all the connected devices and services in your home. Thanks to its compatibility with a wide range of devices and services, along with its active and growing community, Home Assistant is a solid choice for anyone looking to build a smart home.

This serves as a good introduction to Home Assistant. I’ve been using it for over a year and have already accomplished quite a lot with it. You’ll find plenty of posts here: notes, impressions, feedback, and much more.

A good start for a blog post!