Tutorial: Android device-Computer syncing over 3G

This tutorial will teach you how to set up B-Folders on your computer and on your Android device when a 3G connection is available. These instructions pertain only to the very first sync session. Once you are set up, sync sessions will require just one or two steps.

This network diagram represents the most complex of the common scenarios:

Cellular carriers do not normally provide public IP addresses for mobile devices, placing their routers out of your control; hence it is not possible to make your phone accessible from your computer. This tutorial will guide you through allowing your computer to be accessed from your phone instead.

1. Set up the router (if any)

If your computer connects to the Internet through a home, office or corporate router (usually a Wi-Fi router), then the router needs to be configured for port forwarding. You will need to define a port forwarding rule according to your router's manual. The required parameters are the IP address of the computer and the port that B-Folders is listening on. Both parameters can be seen in the Sync dialog on your computer.

To prevent the IP address of the computer from changing, set up the router's DHCP server to reserve a static IP address for the computer.

2. Set up any firewalls

Router's firewall

If you have a home/office router, most likely it does not require configuring its firewall. However, if the sync session fails, you will need to check your router's documentation. If your computer is connected through a corporate router/firewall, you will have to ask the network administrator of your organization for assistance.

Computer's firewall

When you start B-Folders for the first time, the firewall on Windows will normally show a pop-up window asking you whether to allow B-Folders to access the network. You must allow B-Folders to access both private and public networks. If you have blocked B-Folders somehow or you are not sure, check your firewall settings. Make sure B-Folders is added to the program exception list and that the exception is enabled (the corresponding checkbox is checked).

3. Set up B-Folders on the Android device

The automatic discovery feature of B-Folders can find peers only on the local network (subnet). In the current scenario, your computer and Android device are on different subnets so you must manually provide network parameters.

1. Make sure 3G is enabled and Wi-Fi is disabled.
   
2. Start the B-Folders application and press the Sync button on the Home screen to open the Sync screen.
3. Press the Add Peer button and enter the following parameters:
   
   • Name - a name of your choice for this peer (not fundamental to the sync session)
     
   • IP address - the public IP address of the router (if you have a router) or the public IP address of the computer (if your computer is connected directly to the Internet).
4. Press the OK button. The peer with the parameters you provided will appear in the list.

4. Initiate a sync session

On the Android device, select (tap) the peer with the name you created in the previous section (there might be more than one peer to choose from).

NOTE: The database of the peer initiating the sync session must be unlocked. The database of the peer accepting the sync session can be either locked or unlocked.

5. Tips and tricks

• You may add more than one peer if you will be syncing with more than one computer.
• (For experts) You can set up dynamic or static DNS so you will not need to change the IP address parameter of the peer if the IP address of your computer or router is changed by your ISP. In that case, you must provide a domain name instead of an IP address as the IP address parameter.

If you experience any problems, check B-Folders Sync FAQ and troubleshooting or contact Support.