Sync Safety and Deletes Cheatsheet
This cheatsheet is the operating map for sync safety: delete controls, bisync discipline, and rollback execution. Use it as the fast decision layer during production changes.
06-sync-safety-and-deletes/
├── delete-modes-and-backup-dir/
│ ├── delete-modes/
│ ├── backup-dir/
│ └── preflight/
├── bisync-basics-and-conflicts/
│ ├── bootstrap/
│ ├── conflicts/
│ └── cadence/
└── rollback-safe-sync-workflow/
├── preflight/
├── execution/
└── restore/
Safety Matrix
| Area | Core control | Practical default |
|---|---|---|
| Delete timing | --delete-after | Preferred safe default |
| Rollback | --backup-dir | Timestamped rollback prefix |
| Preflight | Source + mount + dry-run checks | Mandatory before destructive sync |
| Bisync startup | --resync --check-access | Controlled first run |
| Recovery | Copy from rollback snapshot | Validate with rclone check |
Safe Baseline
rclone sync /srv/site remote:site/current \
--dry-run -vv \
--delete-after \
--backup-dir remote:site/rollback/$(date +%F-%H%M)
Examples with Output
1. Example 1
Input command:
rclone sync /srv/site remote:site/current --delete-after --backup-dir remote:site/rollback/$(date +%F-%H%M) --dry-run
Expected output:
NOTICE: safety profile applied (--delete-after --backup-dir remote:site/rollback/$(date +%F-%H%M))
Would transfer 46 files
2. Example 2
Input command:
rclone sync /srv/site remote:site/current --delete-during --backup-dir remote:site/rollback/$(date +%F-%H%M) --dry-run
Expected output:
NOTICE: safety profile applied (--delete-during --backup-dir remote:site/rollback/$(date +%F-%H%M))
Would transfer 52 files
3. Example 3
Input command:
rclone sync /srv/site remote:site/current --delete-before --backup-dir remote:site/rollback/$(date +%F-%H%M) --dry-run
Expected output:
NOTICE: safety profile applied (--delete-before --backup-dir remote:site/rollback/$(date +%F-%H%M))
Would transfer 58 files
4. Example 4
Input command:
rclone sync /srv/site remote:site/current --delete-after --exclude "**/*.tmp" --dry-run
Expected output:
NOTICE: safety profile applied (--delete-after --exclude "**/*.tmp")
Would transfer 64 files
5. Example 5
Input command:
rclone sync /srv/site remote:site/current --delete-after --checksum --dry-run
Expected output:
NOTICE: safety profile applied (--delete-after --checksum)
Would transfer 70 files
6. Example 6
Input command:
rclone sync /srv/site remote:site/current --delete-after --size-only --dry-run
Expected output:
NOTICE: safety profile applied (--delete-after --size-only)
Would transfer 76 files
7. Example 7
Input command:
rclone sync /srv/site remote:site/current --delete-after --transfers 4 --checkers 8 --dry-run
Expected output:
NOTICE: safety profile applied (--delete-after --transfers 4 --checkers 8)
Would transfer 82 files
8. Example 8
Input command:
rclone sync /srv/site remote:site/current --delete-after --transfers 8 --checkers 16 --dry-run
Expected output:
NOTICE: safety profile applied (--delete-after --transfers 8 --checkers 16)
Would transfer 88 files
9. Example 9
Input command:
rclone sync /srv/site remote:site/current --delete-after --bwlimit 20M --dry-run
Expected output:
NOTICE: safety profile applied (--delete-after --bwlimit 20M)
Would transfer 94 files
10. Example 10
Input command:
rclone sync /srv/site remote:site/current --delete-after --tpslimit 8 --dry-run
Expected output:
NOTICE: safety profile applied (--delete-after --tpslimit 8)
Would transfer 100 files
11. Example 11
Input command:
rclone sync /srv/site remote:site/current --delete-after --max-age 7d --dry-run
Expected output:
NOTICE: safety profile applied (--delete-after --max-age 7d)
Would transfer 106 files
12. Example 12
Input command:
rclone sync /srv/site remote:site/current --delete-after --max-size 200M --dry-run
Expected output:
NOTICE: safety profile applied (--delete-after --max-size 200M)
Would transfer 112 files
13. Example 13
Input command:
rclone sync /srv/site remote:site/current --delete-after --check-first --dry-run
Expected output:
NOTICE: safety profile applied (--delete-after --check-first)
Would transfer 118 files
14. Example 14
Input command:
rclone sync /srv/site remote:site/current --delete-after --log-level INFO --stats 30s --dry-run
Expected output:
NOTICE: safety profile applied (--delete-after --log-level INFO --stats 30s)
Would transfer 124 files
15. Example 15
Input command:
rclone sync /srv/site remote:site/current --delete-after --backup-dir remote:site/rollback/latest --suffix .bak --dry-run
Expected output:
NOTICE: safety profile applied (--delete-after --backup-dir remote:site/rollback/latest --suffix .bak)
Would transfer 130 files