Does Dropbox sync file contents or file system data blocks?

[Sandeepkiranp]

Does Dropbox sync all the data blocks of a file or only the file contents. Let's say the file system data block size is 4KB and the file size is 10 KB. On the file system, the file occupies 3 data blocks (12KB). When syncing the file across systems, does Dropbox copy 12KB data or only the actual file contents of 10KB?

Is the behavior same across all platforms?

[Jay]

Hi @Sandeepkiranp, thanks for messaging the Community!

This solution on an older post contains information which is still valid today, and should help to answer your question.

If you have any further queries, feel free to message back.

[Sandeepkiranp]

That doesn't answer my question. I am not asking about the sync strategy. I wanted to know if Dropbox syncs only the file contents or the complete file system block contents.

[Здравко · Accepted solution]

Hi @Sandeepkiranp,

All general usage sync systems (including Dropbox) sync files content, not entire block(s) - on different platforms blocks may have different sizes, so syncing blocks would predispose to troubles (and would be meaningless).

Hope this helps.

PS: What Jay directed you to is an outdated feature for block sync that let you sync only changed part of file content. Again there content had been in sync, not blocks - block there means part of the file content, not FS block (what you take in mind).

[Sandeepkiranp]

Thanks @Здравко for the confirmation. I was expecting the same.

[Sandeepkiranp]

Thanks for the confirmation. I was expecting the same.