FASTER THAN A SPEEDING BULLET!
ChronoAgent is simply the best way to achieve secure file transfers, reliability and performance when connected to ChronoSync. Here are some features that ChronoAgent has to offer, showing why it really is the BEST way to synchronize and backup between two Macs.
Configure
SET IT AND FORGET IT!
Once installed, ChronoAgent is configured via a System Preference pane. It is here that various settings that dictate how ChronoAgent will function are established. Once configured, you will rarely, if ever, have the need to re-configure ChronoAgent other than to change your security password from time-to-time (a recommended best-practice).
The General panel is where you name your agent and specify what username & password will be required to access it. ChronoAgent will be visible on your local network using the name you choose. More advanced settings can be configured in the Advanced panel. This includes WAN Access, User Paths, data encryption, and several other settings.
WORKS BEHIND THE SCENES
After initial setup and turning it on, ChronoAgent continues to operate behind the scenes. There is no user interaction required – just continue to use your computer as you normally would. ChronoAgent just sits there and patiently waits to make connections with ChronoSync and InterConneX.
ChronoAgent will continue to operate and provide file sharing services even when no user is logged in. By using Wake-on-LAN or Wake-on-Demand technology, you can configure your computer to automatically wake up when a connection is requested.
STAY INFORMED
ChronoAgent operates stealthily in the background so it’s quite easy to forget it’s there. This is a good thing since you don’t want it to interfere with your work. However, it’s never a bad idea to peek over its shoulder from time-to-time to just to make sure things are running smoothly. Luckily, ChronoAgent provides handy tools to do this!
LOCALLY
The Monitor menu can optionally be enabled. It displays the running status of ChronoAgent, whether or not there are active connections, a history of recent connections (and errors) and even if an updated version is available.
REMOTELY
ChronoMonitor is an iPhone app that can connect to several different ChronoAgents, providing a status report on each one. It can report on the general health of an agent, what it has been doing and if updates are available. It can even report details of synchronizations that may be taking place such as the synchronizer document that is running, scanning progress and error counts.
NUMBERS DON'T LIE
ChronoAgent allows unrestricted, high speed, secure file transfers between ChronoSync and another Mac on your network. You will need to install ChronoAgent on a remote Mac if you wish to:
- Backup all user accounts on the remote Mac.
- Access system files for remote bootable backups.
- Mount and unmount remote volumes (incl. disk images).
If you are synchronizing standard document files or performing lightweight backups, the file sharing built in to macOS will work fine. However, you might want ChronoAgent for:
- Secure, encrypted transfer of file data.
- Ultra-fast file system scanning.
- High performance, parallel data transfers.
Just how much faster is ChronoAgent than built-in file sharing? Here are some benchmarks of a modestly sized home folder backed up using built-in file sharing versus ChronoAgent:
| Task | File Sharing | ChronoAgent |
|---|---|---|
Initial Home Folder backup: (653,000+ files, 285+ GB of data) | 7h 50m 6s | 1h 45m 41s |
Average daily backup thereafter: (~5700 changed files, ~14.2 GB each day) | 48m 17s | 10m 47s |
FULL ACCESS
While a file sharing connection allows you to transfer files back and forth, you cannot transfer ALL files back and forth. Files belonging to other user accounts or the operating system may not be accessible. Thus if you want to backup an entire computer, or at least a significant sub-set of files, traditional file sharing just won’t cut it.
RELIABILITY
A ChronoAgent connection is far more robust than a file sharing connection. Connection errors are detected and handled much faster than with file sharing. Connections can be optimized for WAN access and dropped connections can frequently be recovered.
PERFORMANCE
ChronoAgent is designed to work with ChronoSync and therefore is programmed to perform many tasks that ChronoSync is going to require. This leads to significantly better performance when scanning a file system for changes – often 2x or 3x faster than traditional file sharing!
SECURITY
An individual ChronoAgent connection can be encrypted at the “flip of a switch.” Requiring ALL ChronoAgent connections to be encrypted is just as easy. This is important when communicating on public networks and over the internet.
WORLD-WIDE ACCESS
ChronoAgent can be configured for Internet access, thus opening up all sorts of new possibilities. This capability, used in combination with ChronoSync, InterConneX, or ChronoMonitor, will allow you to sync, backup, access, or monitor your files no matter where you happen to be. Now that’s freedom!
ACCESSIBILITY
ChronoAgent makes it easier to configure ChronoSync to wake your remote Mac if it is sleeping. Thus you don’t need to keep your computer running all the time just to perform unattended backups. A ChronoAgent configured computer can also automatically trigger a synchronization when it joins the network!
RESTRICTIONS
ChronoAgent can be configured for Internet access, thus opening up all sorts of new possibilities. This capability, used in combination with ChronoSync, InterConneX, or ChronoMonitor, will allow you to sync, backup, access, or monitor your files no matter where you happen to be. Now that’s freedom!
All-in-all a ChronoSync-ChronoAgent connection simply works better than traditional file sharing. The increased performance and reliability, fewer headaches and the added bonus of being able to access files via InterConneX makes ChronoAgent a worthy add-on to your Mac computing environment.
- ChronoAgent $14.99
Single License
- 5 License Pack $59.96
$11.99 ea (20% savings)
- 25 License Pack $274.75
$10.99 ea (27% savings)
- ChronoSync + ChronoAgent Bundle $59.98
Single Bundle - a $5 savings!
Contact sales@econtechnologies.com for larger quantities.
LICENSING
A ChronoAgent License can be registered on only one Mac.
To move a license key from an old Mac to a new Mac, unregister on the old Mac and then register on the new Mac.
Contact sales@econtechnologies.com for any clarification.