topic Re: Libraries on the server in Project data & BIM

Libraries on the server

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 00:46:02 GMT

I finally made the switch from putting libraries on every users computer rather than the server. The reason for holding back was my reluctance to monitor and keep the libraries current on everyones computer.

I have no relationship with this software but I have now purchased a nifty piece of software, called 'alway sync' that copies the libraries from my server to everyones computer. It only copies and replaces files that have changed, deletes files that are not on the server, and creates new files that are not present. It can also be scheduled although at this stage i am finding it easier to start it only when i need it.

Our load times have reduced dramatically, network resources have reduced substantially, and object dialogue boxes work faster as there is no need to read from the server.

For those that still have their libraries on the server i suggest you switch.

I also use it to keep add-ons the same on everyone computer, great!

I am sure there is more software available out there but for what its worth the one i am using is http://allwaysync.com/?g=CopyFiles

Re: Libraries on the server

Link — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 01:18:40 GMT

Sounds great Mark - thanks for putting us onto it.

On a slightly different tangeant, do you think it could be used to backup from a laptop to an external firewire hard drive? I only plug it in once a week, and I haven't gotten around to getting a full back-up program.

Maybe this would do the trick?

Cheers,
Link.

Re: Libraries on the server

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 01:23:07 GMT

Yeah, it probably can. I think its original purpose is to synchronize between a laptop and workstation. It think you can get it to synchronize each time you log on, log off.

Its free to try so might want to investigate further to see if it does what you want.

Re: Libraries on the server

Link — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 03:24:05 GMT

Beauty - I might give it a go.

Cheers,
Link.

Re: Libraries on the server

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 04:49:45 GMT

I also use Allwaysync and am very happy with it so far. I don't like it quite as well as ChronoSync on the Mac, but it works very well and it's free.

Re: Libraries on the server

Thomas Holm — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 07:48:50 GMT

Matthew,. I checked their homepage http://allwaysync.com/ and found that it's supposed to work with SAMBA too. As I've posted before, we've had problems finding a reliable Windows back-up tool that backs up the Win workstations to our MacOSX fileserver (shared through Samba using Sharepoints http://www.hornware.com/sharepoints/ , not MacOSX Server).

Do know if this setup works?

Re: Libraries on the server

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 12:18:00 GMT

Thomas wrote:
Matthew,. I checked their homepage http://allwaysync.com/ and found that it's supposed to work with SAMBA too. As I've posted before, we've had problems finding a reliable Windows back-up tool that backs up the Win workstations to our MacOSX fileserver (shared through Samba using Sharepoints http://www.hornware.com/sharepoints/ , not MacOSX Server).

Do know if this setup works?

Sorry, no I don't. I've only used it in an all-windows environment so far. I have been using ChronoSync on my Mac with Windows servers with no problems. Yours sounds like an unusual situation. It seems you may just have to try it out and see how it goes. You could test it on copies first just to be safe.

Re: Libraries on the server

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 13:48:16 GMT

I'm going to check Allway out to see how it compares. I recommend MirrorFolder very highly with the caveat that it has a limit of 7 mirror destinations. I can sync in real-time, scheduled, etc. and can also sync when external devices are plugged in. I think it is $39. It's one of those great programs that just works and you don't even know it's there. Well worth it.

http://www.techsoftpl.com/backup/

The other one I've been using is SyncBack SE which is also great, but not so automatic.

http://www.2brightsparks.com/syncback/syncback-hub.html

Re: Libraries on the server

Thomas Holm — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 07:52:37 GMT

Thanks, Eric, for the tips.

Matthew wrote:
Yours sounds like an unusual situation.

Well, I thought there were others that decided a Mac/Unix server should be safer than a Windows, you know viruses etc., even with Windows workstations. But at our place Windows is the exception, we have four Macs and two Win boxes. And Sharepoints is of course not so well-known as MacOSXServer. It's just a tool to give MaxOSX the same abilities as MacOS9's filesharing. I wouldn't recommend it in a bigger environment.

Re: Libraries on the server

SeaGeoff — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 20:40:55 GMT

I've been using ChronoSync for years (on Mac) and find it very reliable for both syncing and back-up. It's based on saved sync documents that run on a schedule, manually, when a drive is mounted, can mount a drive, etc., based on how they're set up.

I have considered using such software to keep server and local libraries in sync. Glad to hear positive feedback. One question, how do you handle custom (project specific) objects? Thanks.

Re: Libraries on the server

Anonymous — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 20:51:17 GMT

Project specific libraries are always kept in a subfolder next to the PLN/PLP. Those libraries are usually small and so not much of a loading time problem.

Re: Libraries on the server

Anonymous — Sat, 10 Jun 2006 03:15:15 GMT

Geoff wrote:
...One question, how do you handle custom (project specific) objects? Thanks...

We are the same, we have a project specific library folder for every library. Its never large so never causes network problems.

Re: Libraries on the server

David Larrew — Thu, 29 Jun 2006 18:57:48 GMT

DITTO.