FTPDirect

If you back up important files on the same hard drive, you will have spare copies in case you accidentally delete the originals or if they get corrupted, but you will have nothing if the hard drive fails. This is why it is always a better idea to store backups in remote locations. FTPDirect can synchronize data between local and FTP folders, in one direction or both, which makes it an excellent backup solution. You can start backing up huge amounts of data with a single click or let the program do it for you, on a regular basis.

The software is free to try, with a few limitations. Its setup file is 4.74 MB, so you can download it fast, even with a slower Internet connection. The installation process involves usual settings, like selecting a destination folder and creating desktop shortcuts. You can use the program on Windows XP, Vista, Win 7 and Win 8, without sacrificing too many resources.

FTPDirect allows you to establish folder pairs in separate projects. Created projects are listed on the main user interface and you can define new ones or modify existing ones on a separate window. To create a new project, you must specify a FPT's address and port, as well as your username and password. Additionally, you must select a local folder and a FTP folder, on the same window. It is also possible to define file masks, if you wish to ignore specific file types, from your local or remote folder.

Right clicking a listed project will reveal a series of options for uploading or downloading files or performing a two-way synchronization. You can also simulate these operations if you wish to know how long it would take to complete them or if you want to make sure you won't encounter any errors. Regardless of what action you choose to perform, the progress is displayed the same way, on a separate window, and the software will ask for your input if it encounters conflicts, such as files with the same name.

When creating a project, you can also activate an automatic dual sync feature and specify a synchronization interval. Thus, the software will automatically download and upload your files, to make the folders identical. All automatic synchronization tasks are listed on a different window, on which you can also see how much time is left until the next synchronization. The best part is that FTPDirect logs everything you do and it can recover your files if you overwrite them.