Can I duplicate my entire profile, or at least my local folders, across multiple computers via file synchronization?
I have two computers. I currently use Thunderbird on only one of them. I would like to install Thunderbird on the second computer and duplicate my profile there, so that I can use the two computers for interchangeably for email and my calendar.
I am already synchronizing files between the two computers. (I use Syncthing, which seems to work great.)
I can see that all my Thunderbird data seems to be stored in ...\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles. Can I synchronize that folder across my two computers and expect Thunderbird to work correctly with the same profile on both? Is there a better way to achieve the same profile on both computers?
If it isn't feasible to duplicate my entire profile via file synchronization, can I at least synchronize my local folders this way, or will that too cause problems?
-TC
Chosen solution
TC said
Can I synchronize that folder across my two computers and expect Thunderbird to work correctly with the same profile on both?
No
Is there a better way to achieve the same profile on both computers?
Why not use the IMAP mail, carddav addons for contacts and caldav calendars. That will synchronize all the important stuff.
If it isn't feasible to duplicate my entire profile via file synchronization, can I at least synchronize my local folders this way,
Local folders do not synchonise well at all, like the rest of the Thunderbird profile.
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Chosen Solution
TC said
Can I synchronize that folder across my two computers and expect Thunderbird to work correctly with the same profile on both?
No
Is there a better way to achieve the same profile on both computers?
Why not use the IMAP mail, carddav addons for contacts and caldav calendars. That will synchronize all the important stuff.
If it isn't feasible to duplicate my entire profile via file synchronization, can I at least synchronize my local folders this way,
Local folders do not synchonise well at all, like the rest of the Thunderbird profile.
Modified by Matt
Matt,
Thank you for your answers.
I use IMAP for some email, but I keep other email in local folders (mainly to keep under the storage quota of my email host, but also because I want some things available for offline access).
I did not know about the carddav and caldav addons. On you suggestion, I will check them out.
Since file synchronization is a dead end, I'm going to investigate the possibility of hosting my own IMAP server. Wish me luck.
-TC
This article explains how to move the location of the mail folders. I think if you were to relocate Local Folders to a location that was accessible by both computers, and then specify the Local Directory for LF as that location in both profiles, it would work. There is also an add-on, LocalFolders, for defining additional Local Folders that are outside the usual location in the profile.
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Thunderbird_:_FAQs_:_Changing_Profile_Folder_Location