diff --git a/SyncToDeck.md b/SyncToDeck.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b91d84f --- /dev/null +++ b/SyncToDeck.md @@ -0,0 +1,66 @@ + + +# How to transfer files to Steam Deck + +There are many (many) ways to copy data to your Steam Deck. From USB drives to graphical tools or command line options, there are many more ways than those I list below. If you have a preferred method that works, by all means stick with that. + +### My personal choice - Rsync over SSH using MobaxTerm + +My personal choice. While rsync is a command line tool, it is very powerful and I prefer it because it can be used to synchronise two directories so they are identical, including removing files in the destination that are no longer in the source. This is particularly useful when updating a Wabbajack Modlist that you already have on the Steam Deck. Alternative methods like those below dont have a great way of making sure the two directories are identical. They are great for copying data from PC to Deck, sure, but what happens if a mod has been deleted from a modlist in the latest version? Simply copying and pasting the new version of the modlist over the top of the existing old version will get the new changes, but it *won't* remove anything that is no longer present in the new version. + +For that reason, my preferred method is to use rsync. Windows does not have rsync command line by default, but you can still use this wonderful tool with an additional application on Windows. There are a few Windows apps that will do this for you, my favourite is MobaXTerm, which has a 'free for personal use' version. + + + +_**PLEASE NOTE: I cannot be held responsible for anything negative that happens if you use the following method incorrectly for your system or file paths._ + + + +To accomplish the following steps, you will need to have already set a password for the deck user on your Steam Deck. If you haven't already done so, you can follow Valve's guidance: + + + +## Enable SSH on the Steam Deck + +Rsync uses the SSH (remote access) protocol to conenct two systems and transfer the data. By default SSH is not enabled on the Steam deck - if you haven't already done so, by running the following command in a konsole terminal window on your deck, you can enable it forever more: + +``` +sudo systemctl enable --now sshd +``` + +You will be prompted to enter you 'deck' user password. As happens most of the time with Linux/SteamOS, if a command has *no output*, that ususally means it succeeded: + + + +## MobaXterm on Windows + +You can download the MobaXterm application here: [MobaXTerm](https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/download-home-edition.html) + +Once installed, open MobaXterm and click "Start Local Terminal": + + + +In terms of the actual rsync command, these are the flags I use. _Please be very careful with this command_, using the `--delete` flag with rsync can be dangerous if you get the paths wrong - see below the command for a brief description of what each flag is applying here. The rsync command I use is (using Tuxborn as an example): + +``` +rsync -arvP --delete /drives/c/Wabbajack/Skyrim/Tuxborn/* deck@steamdeck:/home/deck/Games/Skyrim/Tuxborn/. +``` + + + + * You will need to adjust the path in `/drives/c/../..` to match where the Modlist Install directory you set in Wabbajack exists on your Windows system. For example a Wabbajack Install path of `D:\Wabbajack\Tuxborn` would be referenced as `/drives/d/Wabbajack/Tuxborn` for the rsync command. + + * The `*` and ending `.` are **very** important here, so please make sure you get the command exactly right. + + * The `-arvP` flags tell rsync to sync all data, including subfolders and files (-arv), and to disaply the progress while it is sync'ing the data (-P). + + * The important part for *updating a modlist*, is the use of the `--delete` flag. This will *delete anything present in the Destination directory* (i.e. on the Steam Deck), that **isn't** in the Source directory on Windows. That means game saves, Custom character presets, or mods no longer in the modlist will be removed, unrecoverably. But.. this will be far quicker than fully deleting the Modlist and copying it over from scratch. + +### Conclusion + +As ever, please use the above information at your own risk. If you are unsure, I am usually around in the #unofficial-linux-help channel of the Official Wabbajack Discord, so you may be better to ask for guidance *before* you proceed. + +In the future, I will try to make time to include guides for how to use alternative tools such as Warpinator, WinSCP, or any other alternatives that would be useful. + +[![ko-fi](https://ko-fi.com/img/githubbutton_sm.svg)](https://ko-fi.com/D1D8H8WBD) +