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Comparing file date/time stamp between 2 hosts.

Any suggestions for comparing file date/time stamp between 2 hosts? I have to compare like named files (and dirs.) between 2 hosts, and then overlay the older file with a newer file. I want to avoid ftp'ing or remote copying any unnecessary files between the hosts, and cannot think of how to accomplish this task without doing so.
Thanks.

jlevie

Do you have rdist? That's exactly the what rdist is for.

kfleary

ASKER

The problem is that I cannot identify the files on one server as the "master" files? I literally have to compare the two files for the most current date/time stamp. Then the newest file will be copied over the the server with the old file.

kinsey

Have you tried using CPIO either through a rsh pipe or a mounted filesystem?
i.e.

cd /data
find . -depth -print|cpio -ov|rsh otherhost "(cd /data;cpio -ivd)"

By default cpio does not copy older files top on newer ones.

Harold

tfewster

Have you considered NFS mounting filesystems between the 2 hosts so you only have a single copy of the file(s)?

Solaris has a command "filesync" that will do what you want, based on rules you define (e.g. what to do if both files have changed from the "baseline"); I'll check to see whether this is available for other Unixes.

kfleary

ASKER

I need to have the files synced on both servers, and one server cannot act as the "master".

jlevie

Okay, that would probably eliminate rdsit from consideration. I can see a couple of other ways to solve the problem. To determine which would be the most appropriate and most efficient I need to know a bit more about the environment. What rights do you have on the remote systems, ordinary login, rsh/rexec? Is installation of safe and well behaved PD tools on the local and remote systems possible?

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

mapc

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