File Synchronization

[Stalemate]

I have been given the mandate of finding a good file synchronization system at work.

We need to sync files stored in the My Documents folder on users who could be connected through LAN, WAN, WLAN and VPN (on broadband).

The system should allow for:
Scheduling
Reporting
Optimal Bandwidth Use

I have access to all the Gartner Reasearch on this but I need to know what the real world is using.

Thanks for your comments.

[Jeff316]

I have been given the mandate of finding a good file synchronization system at work.

We need to sync files stored in the My Documents folder on users who could be connected through LAN, WAN, WLAN and VPN (on broadband).

The system should allow for:
Scheduling
Reporting
Optimal Bandwidth Use

I have access to all the Gartner Reasearch on this but I need to know what the real world is using.

Thanks for your comments.

How about using group policy to set the user's Mydocs folder to a network share and using offline files? It would satisfy 1 & 3 though 2 may be sketchy... Still it is free and works great for me.

[Stalemate]

How about using group policy to set the user's Mydocs folder to a network share and using offline files? It would satisfy 1 & 3 though 2 may be sketchy... Still it is free and works great for me.

Funny you should mention it, as it is the current system in place. ;)

Some users don't sync at all for months because the process is quite long when hundreds of Mbs are passed through a VPN on Broadband (sync is set to occur at logon and logoff) and we can't make it mandatory because then the apocalypse would occur.

[RejectionMan]

Novell iFolder.... but i think it only works with and DNS infrastructure... before that we were having hte user run a batch file when it suited them

[Stalemate]

Novell iFolder... interesting.

Works with AD too. :cool:



Looking into it now.

[merlinsghost]

www.adaptcrw.com

Pricey, but worth it. We use it here at my office/work.

[Stalemate]

Dead link?

And I can't intuit the full name of the company from the post.

[Ya_know]

Dead link?

And I can't intuit the full name of the company from the post.

I almost thought it was a play on your user name...

[craigmodius]

MS 2k3 Server's Shadow Copy (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/technologies/fileandprint/file/vds/default.mspx)?

[confus-ed]

MS 2k3 Server's Shadow Copy (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/technologies/fileandprint/file/vds/default.mspx)?

That looks like it'll do it :thumbs: , but maybe Adept ain't got 2003 yet ? In which case I say this .. ! ;)

Man I just tell 'em they are on their own, if they want to use to local storage for stuff .. you are just making it hard for yourself, sod what users actually want :D, get 'em told ! :eek2: :devil:,

The whole point of networks & especially domains is the whole 'central unique control' thingymabob, start giving them resources beyond that & you are just making difficulties for yourself & them in terms of versions, backups etc, though I note your comments about impending 'apocalypse' ;)

..Some users don't sync at all for months because the process is quite long when hundreds of Mbs are passed through a VPN on Broadband (sync is set to occur at logon and logoff) and we can't make it mandatory because then the apocalypse would occur...

So maybe do 'suggestion 1' in batches then if you are worried about 'network meltdown' & warn 'em up front ? If you hadn't let 'em get away with this for sooooo long you could have just made this mandatory anyway ?, as said 'works for me' ;)

[merlinsghost]

www.adaptcrw.com

Pricey, but worth it. We use it here at my office/work.


Sorry, it's:


http://www.adaptcrm.com/


I put a w instead of an m. =(

[Stalemate]

Thanks for the replies.

I'm not at the office right now but I will look into them all.

[confus-ed]

You never indicated whether there was a budget for this ? & that's why the 2003 suggestion got the 'thumbs' from me as if I recall correctly you work somewhere medium to large & so it'll be 'in the works' anyway ? 'Management' I pressume would like this approach, as its just justification to continue to follow Billy's yellow brick upgrade path ?

[Six Eyed Smily]

is the vpn to branch offices?

if so you could put a NAS box in each branch office, for the users there to sync with, then get that box to sync with the server when the network is largely unused (such as late at night, or use QoS and set a low priority)

this way you dont have to use additional software, and you can keep the existing system, saving you time (and quite possibly money too) while still keeping the whole thing very centralised

[Stalemate]

You never indicated whether there was a budget for this ? & that's why the 2003 suggestion got the 'thumbs' from me as if I recall correctly you work somewhere medium to large & so it'll be 'in the works' anyway ? 'Management' I pressume would like this approach, as its just justification to continue to follow Billy's yellow brick upgrade path ?


Good question.

We are a MS friendly place, and budget is not an issue.

Reporting features are a must.

The VPN sessions are individual mobile users across the entire country. The branch offices are connected through LAN extensions.


I'm taking a look at ADAPTcrm, but can't seem to figure out how a CRM suite could help me do this. We are already looking at PeoplSoft and/or Great Plains, so another CRM solution is redundant. It looks like the sync portal proposed only works with their suite too.

[Stalemate]

MS 2k3 Server's Shadow Copy (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/technologies/fileandprint/file/vds/default.mspx)?

I took a look at it and this is not adequate as a file synchronization system. It is more of a scheduled backup and failsafe system.

It is, however, very interesting and I'll pass it on to the network admin who will undoubtedly be very happy to know this exists. Thanks.

[confus-ed]

I took a look at it and this is not adequate as a file synchronization system. It is more of a scheduled backup and failsafe system.


At the risk of being a 'pita' can I trouble you to enlarge on this ? .. some of us ain't so hot on the intricacies of w2k3 ;)

[Stalemate]

At the risk of being a 'pita' can I trouble you to enlarge on this ? .. some of us ain't so hot on the intricacies of w2k3 ;)

Sure - I'll let Microsoft answer. ;)


http://download.microsoft.com/download/f/3/d/f3da10e8-c9fd-454d-9a54-c765d738449d/SCR.doc


What Shadow Copies of Shared Folders Can Do

Shadow Copies of Shared Folders helps end users:

§ Recover files without assistance from the help desk.

§ Recover files that were not saved using the “Saved as” command.

§ Recover files that were corrupted and not recovered with the file recovery capabilities of Windows XP Professional or Microsoft Office XP.

Shadow Copies of Shared Folders creates a safety net for end users by providing an easily and readily available previous version of a file. In this way, Shadow Copies of Shared Folders helps end users to:

§ Manage their own files.

§ Fix mistakes without rebuilding the file or calling the help desk...

[confus-ed]

Thanking you, your Overlordship sir ! :thumbs: :D

[Stalemate]

Thanking you, your Overlordship sir ! :thumbs: :D

You didn't get the memo about that particular title, did you?


Ooops. :o

[craigmodius]

I took a look at it and this is not adequate as a file synchronization system. It is more of a scheduled backup and failsafe system.

It is, however, very interesting and I'll pass it on to the network admin who will undoubtedly be very happy to know this exists. Thanks.

I wonder whether it let's you schedule a sync upon login?

Unless it wouldn't work for you because the shadow copy of a file might not be as good as a full backup.