What is a 'directory pair' according to you?
How many subdirectories deep does SynchroFile monitor?
How do I empty the Temp directories on all my networked desktop PC's?
How do I do the 'compare and repair' of desktop applications that you talk about?
Where is your user manual?
What's a UNC?
I have slow WAN circuits. How can I transfer compressed files?
Will SynchroFile copy open files? Your competitors do!
What are the options when two directories are synchronized?
Will it run on Windows for Workgroups?
Can I use SynchroFile on my Microsoft Peer-to-Peer Network?
How can I automate installing SynchroFile on a large number of desktop systems?
SynchroFile can push/pull to desktops from my NT Server-why use it on all desktops?
Can I use SynchroFile with a Novell NetWare 4 or 5 server?
Can I use SynchroFile with a Red Hat or Caldera Linux server? SCO? Solaris x86?
You ever heard of rdist and rsync? Why should I use DM for Unix?
Can I use SynchroFile on Linux desktop systems?
Using SynchroFile, how do I install software on desktops from an NT server system?
Where can I get SynchroFile?
Is the download really free?
I didn't have time to really test SynchroFile, and my evaluation period has expired.
How do I get an 'unlock key'?
We're overseas. How do we pay for it?
So what's the REAL price?
How do I pull programs or data from a remote ftp server?
Can I change SynchroFile's FTP/TCP port ?
How do I synchronize a SQL database to a remote site?
Can I use SynchroFile instead of buying an expensive RAID array?
When I inventory desktop systems, all I get are these tables. How do I read them?
What is a 'directory pair' according to you?
Source and Destination directories residing on separate systems networked to each other. How many subdirectories deep does SynchroFile monitor?
When the Include sub-directories option is checked, SynchroFile will perform the chosen action on all
sub-directories in the directory pair. This could allow the copying of an entire disk drive or partition. How do I empty the Temp directories on all my networked desktop PC's?
Set SynchroFile to launch at desktop startup and synchronize Temp to an empty directory. How do I do the 'compare and repair' of desktop applications that you talk about?
Set SynchroFile to launch at startup and synchronize to another system's template directory containing
the desired applications. Alternatively, launch on demand from the desktop. Missing applications will be
added, later versions downloaded, and unwanted applications may be deleted. Where is your user manual?
The SynchroFile user guide is online with the product. There is additional information on the Connectivity
Systems website, www.csusa.com. What's a UNC?
Universal Naming Convention names describe disk resources by system.
The names look like \\SERVER2\DISKC\ABC.TXT or \\DT006\DISKC\WINDOWS\DOCUMENTS\ABC.EXE.
Using UNC allows access to disks that are not mounted shared to the network. UNC naming works over network
protocols TCP/IP, IPX/SPX, and NetBEUI. I have slow WAN circuits. How can I transfer compressed files?
Compressing data before transfer can make the most of slender WAN circuits. SynchroFile has both pre-
and post- execution capability. Version 4.1 cannot cause a program to be executed on another system.
However, using two copies, compression - transfer - decompression can be done. Example: System A has
directories to be copied to System B over a slow link. System A: SynchroFile's scheduler launches at 4:00PM. Pre- execution, WinZip is run against the
directories, which are compressed into a new set. SynchroFile then runs against dummy/nonexistent
directories - performs NO copy. System B: SynchroFile's scheduler launches at 4:15PM. It PULLS the Zipped file system from System A.
Then, using post-execution, it runs WinZip to Unzip the files just transferred. Will SynchroFile copy open files? Your competitors do!
No. If a set of files will be opened and closed throughout the day, schedule SynchroFile to copy periodically.
If files have not changed since the last synchronization, no copy will be performed. Eventually, the open file will be
closed. It will be copied the next time the scheduled synchronization runs. SynchroFile will only copy the
latest version of a closed file, and ignore files already copied, if not changed in the interim. This is explained in
more detail below. Regarding our competitors' approaches, you will probably find that they arbitrarily log users out and close
files before transfer. We consider this to be unfriendly behavior. What are the options when two directories are synchronized?
Logging on/off Enable creation of log file entries
File Action
· None: Files are not moved or copied
· Copy: Files in source directory are copied to destination directory
· Move: Files in source directory are moved to destination directory
· Inventory: A file list is compiled and compared for source and destination directories.
Overwrite
· Never: Files in destination directory are never overwritten when copying or moving
· Always: Files in destination directory are always overwritten when copying or moving
Older Files: Files in destination directory are overwritten only if they are older than the file in the source
directory
Changed Files: Files in destination directory are overwritten if the file date is not the same as the file in the
source directory.
Include sub-directories
Delete Files not in Source Will it run on Windows for Workgroups?
No. SynchroFile is a Windows-32 (bit) application and will not run in a 16-bit environment. Can I use SynchroFile on my Microsoft Peer-to-Peer Network?
Yes, as long as it's Windows 95 or later. You can access files on desktops and network servers at the
NetBEUI level. Microsoft NetBEUI network protocol is not routable, so this only works on a LAN.
Disks must be mounted shared, or see the 'UNC' FAQ. How can I automate installing SynchroFile on a large number of desktop systems?
Use a server logon script to force download of SynchroFile from a server. Using UNC allows access to desktop
disks that are not mounted shared to the network.
SynchroFile can push/pull to desktops from my NT Server-why use it on all desktops?
Network administration time - It is very easy to create one version of SynchroFile with pre-created directory
pairs and then automatically download it to every desktop using a logon script. Compare this to manually entering
(and maintaining) up to hundreds of directory pairs within SynchroFile on the server. Can I use SynchroFile with a Novell NetWare servers?
SynchroFile will only execute on a Windows 32 system. However, Windows 32 desktop systems can
synchronize with any directory available in the Network Neighborhood - including Novell NetWare Server disks.
To load SynchroFile on desktop systems, use a logon script to force download from server. Can I use SynchroFile with a Red Hat or Caldera Linux server? SCO? Solaris x86?
It depends. From Wine Headquarters (www.winehq.com): "Wine is an implementation of the Windows 3.x and
Win32 APIs on top of X and Unix. Think of Wine as a Windows compatibility layer. Wine provides a program
loader, allowing unmodified Windows 3.1/95/98/NT binaries to run under Intel Unixes. " Thus with Wine, SynchroFile can run on Intel Unixes. SynchroFile is a major tool for bridging the gulf
between the Unix server and those alien Win32 desktop systems the server is supposed to control. Note - if the Wine environment is not available for the Linux or Unix variant, see FAQ comments regarding Novell
NetWare. You ever heard of rdist and rsync? Why should I use DM for Unix?
We certainly are aware of both rdist and rsync, which are tools a UNIX system administrator would be very
comfortable with. We propose SynchroFile for the many Windows 32 desktop systems that are managed
by UNIX/Linux servers. Running on the desktop systems, SynchroFile uses a familiar Windows interface
and allows data and program synchronization/push/pull to be initiated from the desktop, either from an icon, at
startup, or based on a cron function. We present it as an easily-understood alternative to the fairly complex
command string required by rdist. Can I use SynchroFile on Linux desktop systems?
Only if the Wine environment is loaded and running as well. At that point any client-server relationship or
NFS-mounted disk array is available to SynchroFile. The only point would be if the Linux desktop systems
'map' the drives on a Windows NT Server system. SynchroFile is a friendly substitute for the 'tar' and 'rdist'
utilities. Using SynchroFile, how do I install software on desktops from an NT server system?
Since SynchroFile does not alter the Windows Registry, a 'setup.exe' or equivalent must be run for
software downloaded to the desktop system.
With SynchroFile on NT Server 'pushing' programs:
Either the desktop disks must be mounted shared, or use desktop UNC. The desktop user must run the
setup.exe manually.
With SynchroFile on desktop 'pulling' programs:
Windows 32 desktop systems can synchronize with any directory available in the Network Neighborhood,
including NT Server disks. SynchroFile's post-synchronization execution can automate the running of
'setup.exe' to complete the install and Registry modification. Where can I get SynchroFile?
You can download SynchroFile from our website, www.syncrhofile.com, or www.csusa.com, or,
if you are a Volume/Enterprise client, we'll send you a CDROM. SynchroFile is also available on a
download basis from over 12,000 Internet Software Outlets. Is the download really free?
Yes, the limited version of Synchrofile is absolutely free. The product has a one job limitation,
to get the full version simply buy online I didn't have time to really test SynchroFile, and my evaluation period has expired.
If you have a valid need to extend your evaluation, email support@csusa.com. How do I get an 'unlock key'?
Phone us at (520) 885-5200, credit card in hand, and ask for Download Administration. Or, follow the onscreen
e-mail directions when the evaluation period is over. We're overseas. How do we pay for it?
Letters Of Credit in U.S. Dollars are acceptable, as are internationally-known credit cards. So what's the REAL price?
Connectivity Software Systems will, at its discretion, occasionally offer price discounts through specific outlets
or to specific market segments. How do I pull programs or data from a remote ftp server?
Can I change SynchroFile's FTP/TCP port ?
Yes. If the source and /or destination are remote (FTP) then you will need to provide the user name, password
and account(optional) in the spaces provided. If the FTP server uses a port other than 21 you will need to specify it.
Consider pinging the FTP server to prove its availability.
Port The FTP port of the server
User Name Your User Name, type "anonymous" for anonymous access
Password Your Password, for anonymous access type your e-mail address
Account Optional enter your account if necessary How do I synchronize a SQL database to a remote site?
It is not feasible to copy an open database. You can use Microsoft SQL Server's own Enterprise Manager
to perform replication. If this is not possible, use the NT command line to stop service, run SynchroFile,
restart service. Alternatively, SynchroFile allows both pre and post synchronization execution. Run a
script which stops the database service, runs SynchroFile, then starts another script which restarts the
database service. Can I use SynchroFile instead of buying an expensive RAID array?
Yes, with the following caveats:
a) there is a separate system with sufficient disk space to mirror specific server directories
b) there is a fast enough network to support the traffic, OR install a second set of NICs and a crossover
Ethernet cable for a private circuit between systems- use full duplex if possible
c) one system is running Windows 32
d) SynchroFile will not copy open file structures When I inventory desktop systems, all I get are these tables. How do I read them?
To view the inventory file, click the inventory button on the toolbar and the file will open in the program that is
associated with the .txt extension (usually notepad). The inventory file is a standard text file (.txt) and may be
opened and printed from any application that supports printing of text files.
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