Local sync among multiple Macs & iPhones

somainer

I am considering purchasing 1Password to sync between 1 mac mini, 2 mac laptops, and 2 iPhones (family version for the mac; individual versions for the separate appleIDs for each iPhone). Please excuse this long missive, but even after looking through various other posts I still have a few questions (I would test it all myself, but Apple won't allow trial versions of iPhone apps).

CLOUD-FREE SETUP.

1) Is this the best configuration if I want to avoid storing any data in the cloud?
my iPhone <wi-fi> my laptop <folder> mac mini <folder> wife's laptop <wifi> wife's iPhone
NOTE that "<>" indicates sync connection, with the type of sync listed between the brackets.

2) Assuming this is the right setup, can I simply designate a folder on my mac mini as the sync folder to be accessed by the mini and the 2 laptops (our home wifi network is already configured so that the two laptops have read/write access to the folders on the mini)?

3) Assuming this is the right setup, will I be able to sync my laptop to my iPhone, and my wife's laptop to her iPhone, using wifi sync - even though we would also be using folder sync? I have read some things in this group implying that you can only have one type of sync configured for the mac version - but I want to use two types (sync laptop to mac mini via sync folder AND sync laptop to my iphone via wifi sync).

PRIMARY VS SECONDARY VAULTS

4) Given it appears that the iPhone can only have a single vault, it seems that we would need to share all of our data in just one vault in order to use the setup described in #1 - if that's the case (i.e, we really only can have one vault), then what is the downside of syncing the primary vault?

5) If we opt to use multiple vaults if/when the iPhone version supports it (e.g., I would have exclusive access to my personal vault, my wife would have exclusive access to her personal vault, and we would have a shared family vault), what are the pros and cons of having the primary vault be the shared one?

SYNC CONFLICTS

6) I recognize that in the setup described in #1 there is the potential for conflicts (for example if I change a password for a given site on my iPhone and my wife does the same on her laptop)... so, are such conflicts detected in both Mac and iPhone versions, how are they communicated, and what options do I have to resolve them (e.g., pick from 2 options with date/times given for when changes were made and what device the change was made on; or something it settings to specify to by default accept the most recent one, etc)?

7) How do I initiate sync between a laptop and the shared folder on the mac mini - does 1Password have to be running on my laptop, and if so will it happen automatically whever my laptop is connnected to my home network?

8) How do I initiate sync between a laptop and the iPhone - does 1Password have to be running on both devices, and if so will it happen automatically?

somainer

ugh, the brackets encasing sync type was omitted in my initial post... what I meant for question 1 was:

1) Is this the best configuration if I want to avoid storing any data in the cloud?
my iPhone <-wifi sync-> my laptop <-folder sync-> mac mini <-folder sync-> wife's laptop <-wifi sync-> wife's iPhone

NOTE that "<>" indicates sync connection, with the type of sync listed between the brackets.

Jasper

Hi @somainer,

1) Is this the best configuration if I want to avoid storing any data in the cloud?

my iPhone <wi-fi> my laptop <folder> mac mini <folder> wife's laptop <wifi> wife's iPhone
NOTE that "<>" indicates sync connection, with the type of sync listed between the brackets.

Yep, that's the way to do it.

2) Assuming this is the right setup, can I simply designate a folder on my mac mini as the sync folder to be accessed by the mini and the 2 laptops (our home wifi network is already configured so that the two laptops have read/write access to the folders on the mini)?

Yes, this should work, but the location must always be available. As you noted in another discussion, there are problems that occur if the removable drive is not mounted. I've responded about coming improvements in the other discussion.

3) Assuming this is the right setup, will I be able to sync my laptop to my iPhone, and my wife's laptop to her iPhone, using wifi sync - even though we would also be using folder sync? I have read some things in this group implying that you can only have one type of sync configured for the mac version - but I want to use two types (sync laptop to mac mini via sync folder AND sync laptop to my iphone via wifi sync).

Yes, you can use both folder sync and wifi sync. It's true that you're only able to sync via iCloud, Dropbox, or folder. But, wifi sync can be used in addition to one of the other methods.

4) Given it appears that the iPhone can only have a single vault, it seems that we would need to share all of our data in just one vault in order to use the setup described in #1 - if that's the case (i.e, we really only can have one vault), then what is the downside of syncing the primary vault?

The only downside would be that you need to share the same data between the two of you.

5) If we opt to use multiple vaults if/when the iPhone version supports it (e.g., I would have exclusive access to my personal vault, my wife would have exclusive access to her personal vault, and we would have a shared family vault), what are the pros and cons of having the primary vault be the shared one?

Multiple vaults are coming soon to 1Password for iOS. I don't have an exact release date to share, but please stay tuned. :)

But, it's also important to note that wifi sync between iOS and Mac will only be available for the primary vault to start with — secondary vaults won't be able to sync via wifi.

6) I recognize that in the setup described in #1 there is the potential for conflicts (for example if I change a password for a given site on my iPhone and my wife does the same on her laptop)... so, are such conflicts detected in both Mac and iPhone versions, how are they communicated, and what options do I have to resolve them (e.g., pick from 2 options with date/times given for when changes were made and what device the change was made on; or something it settings to specify to by default accept the most recent one, etc)?

If 1Password detects a sync conflict, it will merge it into the existing local copy by putting it in a Conflicts section:

We put the conflicting data inside the item itself, so that you can resolve it manually.

7) How do I initiate sync between a laptop and the shared folder on the mac mini - does 1Password have to be running on my laptop, and if so will it happen automatically whever my laptop is connnected to my home network?

Folder sync will occur automatically when 1Password mini is running, and you are connected to the remote volume where 1Password is folder syncing to.

8) How do I initiate sync between a laptop and the iPhone - does 1Password have to be running on both devices, and if so will it happen automatically?

1Password needs to be running on both devices, and wifi sync needs to be initiated manually.

I hope that helps! Please let us know if you have any other questions. :)