I have a computer (laptop) at work that I have installed Thunderbird on and set all of these rules, created contacts, and updated calendars on. I don't want to have to go through all of that process over again on my desktop at home. Is there a tool/add-on or simple way to accomplish this?
asked Aug 25, 2011 at 21:10
-
2Possible duplicate of Is there a simple way to synchronize Thunderbird across machines?– ivan_pozdeevJan 28, 2017 at 15:24
-
1@ivan_pozdeev, this question has a wider variety of answers so it makes a better target. I suggested the reverse duplicate on the other question.– fixer1234Jan 28, 2017 at 22:10
Add a comment
|
5 Answers
Just sync the whole profile folder over Dropbox.
-
Sounds like a candidate for synchronization via git, either using one's own server or a private git account on the several providers which exist. I'm off to try that. Aug 11, 2013 at 15:41
-
3@DavidTonhofer You want to keep your emails in a github, and be required to make a commit every time you access your mailbox!? Mar 24, 2014 at 0:08
-
2Good luck having two clients access the mails accessed at the same time. Let's corrupt the thunderbird profile as fast as possible ;-)– nerdocOct 3, 2017 at 17:57
-
1
You can set your thunderbird profile up on a (large) memory stick and then just take it with you. You'd probably want backups and some sort of encryption in case it gets lost, though.
The other idea would be a Dropbox folder, if you can install Dropbox on your work laptop. Since you got Thunderbird installed, I assume you're allowed to at least install software. The firewall may be another issue.
The only suggestions and utilities online deal with sneaker-net methods (portable drive profile above) and network drive methods (Dropbox or LAN/WAN).
UPDATE response to dropbox clarification question:
I assume you're familiar with cloud storage systems such as Sugar, Dropbox, and the like. Most of them result in a particular folder or folders being copied from your computer to cloud storage "out there". Installing the host program allows you to keep files on multiple computers synchronized pretty effectively as well as backed up on the cloud.
You would set up Thunderbird to store it's profile data in a folder that Dropbox (or whichever app you choose) backs up and synchronizes.
Then you set up the Dropbox client on your work computer and download that same Thunderbird profile data to that computer.
Technically, using the portable version of Thunderbird, you could put the app itself in the cloud storage so it could be accessible wherever you download it.
All updates and changes would then be synced between any systems you have the the dropbox client and thunderbird app set up and configured properly.
answered Aug 25, 2011 at 21:16
-
-
4If you're using Dropbox, make VERY SURE that Thunderbird is closed on the other side when you have it open at home (and vice versa). My preferred solution is to let it run normally on my laptop or PC, and just sync that Profiles folder to a thumb drive (fewer writes, longer lifespan). Then on the other side, syncing from the thumb drive to the Profiles folder there.– user3463Aug 25, 2011 at 21:53
-
Take Randolphs word for it. I don't actually use an email client (since Gmail become good enough) any longer and only used Thunderbird briefly many years ago. My answer is based on technical feasibility, not on personal experience. Aug 25, 2011 at 21:55
-
Well it's a reasonable solution, especially if your Thunderbird profile folder is under 2GB (for free Dropbox usage).– user3463Aug 25, 2011 at 21:58
-
If it's more, SugarSync apparently allows more storage for their free accounts, and overall cheaper rates. I used Dropbox only as a common and well-known option. Also, getting people to sign up through an affiliate link, I believe you can get up to 5GB free space total on Dropbox? Aug 25, 2011 at 22:01
Another solution, which I use for non-syncing apps,
would be symbolically linking (scriptable, cross-platform)
certain files (filter *.dat file, etc)
from a Resilio Sync folder (free, self-hosted, infinite space) a la Dropbox.
Using this method you cannot open it on both computers.
As for syncing mail, DO NOT BOTHER WITH THIS MANUALLY. Just switch to an IMAP mail server and THIS IS DONE FOR YOU. (Don't use POP)
As for Calendar, THIS IS DONE FOR YOU, just use Cal-DAV (Google Cal, or OwnCloud for self-hosted)
As for Contacts, THIS IS DONE FOR YOU, just use CardDAV (Owncloud)
I used to use a program called Synching Thunder and it worked very well. I don't know whether it still is working since it's no longer developed since 2007. If anyone has used it recently and can comment, that would be helpful.
Description
Synching Thunder is designed as an application that synchronizes Mozilla Thunderbird mail between different mailboxes. A typical usage example would be keeping mail on a laptop in synch with mail on a desktop PC.
I set up Thunderbird on one machine, got it configured with 4 mail accounts, add-ons, message filters etc, then used a free tool called MozBackup to export the profile (it was quite large) and then import it into a new installation on another PC. It worked a treat. I use IMAP as well which is probably the best way to set up your mail if you want to look at it across multiple platforms (well, you could use MS Exchange & Outlook).
I'm new to Thunderbird and have installed the excellent Lightning calendar add-on so just trying to work out if I can get this to sync with a cloud based calendar so the different installations will treat the calendar as server-hosted and sync accordingly.
