When should I synchronize permissions in real-time but not during the scan?
Question
PeerGFS allows the independent enabling of real‑time permission synchronization as well as scan-based permission synchronization. When, if ever, should one be used without the other?
Answer
You should not use one option without the other. Peer Software no longer supports (and does not recommend) enabling permission synchronization only in real‑time or only during a scan; you must enable both options together, or disable both. The UI controls that let you toggle them independently will be removed in a future release.
Why?
If PeerGFS goes offline, any permission changes made during that time are missed, including permissions set on newly created files and folders. When PeerGFS comes back online and performs a rescan, it will synchronize file and folder content. If scan-based permission synchronization is not enabled, however, any missed permission changes will not be synchronized. This can result in permission mismatches across file servers and potentially make data inaccessible. The issue is especially noticeable when syncing user home directories or user profiles.
For details on permission‑conflict handling, see How does PeerGFS handle permission conflicts during scans?