Zsync: Client side Rsync over HTTP (e.g. HTTP diffs?)

zsync.moria.org.uk

3 pointsbengebre4 comments

zsync uses the rsync algorithm, but runs it on the client side, thus avoiding the high server load associated with rsync...All that is needed is an HTTP/1.1-compliant web server.

although it does require one thing on the server side it seems:

zsync downloads are offered by building a .zsync file, which contains the meta-data needed by zsync. This file contains the precalculated checksums for the rsync algorithm; it is generated on the server, once, and is then used by any number of downloaders.

Interesting idea for reducing bandwidth on large, frequently polled files.

I believe the metadata file could equally well be generated on the client side, as long as it's stored on the server.

http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1013748

Whoops. Thanks for pointing that out. Funny it came up just recently. I just happened upon it randomly today.

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