Customizing Asset Management › Jobs › Asset Jobs › Job Types › Synchronization Job

Synchronization Job

Use the Directory Synchronization Job to synchronize two directories on an asset. Synchronization involves comparing the contents of the target directory and the source directory, and making the content of the former identical to the latter.

Note: This job can be linked only to the computer assets and is applicable only for Windows agents.

In Step 3 of the New Job wizard, specify the directories:

Source

Indicates the directory to be compared against (the image).

Target

Indicates the directory to be examined for differences (reflection of the image).

Note: The use of UNC path is supported. Syntax: \\servername\sharename

In Step 4 of the New Job wizard, specify the following:

• Whether subdirectories should also be examined for differences.
• Whether files on the Target that are nonexistent on the Source should be deleted.
• Whether attributes should be ignored when comparing, to prevent making Target file attributes equal to Source file attributes.
• Whether attributes should be ignored when copying, in which case the job will try to overwrite Target files that are write protected.
• Whether to cancel the job, when the size difference between the two directories exceeds the specified size in KB. This parameter is provided to prevent accidental copying of a large number of KB over the network.

Example: Printer File Synchronization

This is an example of how to update the printer files of users that are on the local hard disk of the users. To make it easier, you need to update only, say, N:\PRINTERS with the latest printer files. You can then use directory synchronization to equate the directories C:\WINDOWS\PRINTERS and N:\PRINTERS. The printer files located on the hard disk are now made equal to the printer files on the network drive N. The directory is thereafter examined for differences each time the computer starts on the network.

Source: N:\PRINTERS

Target: C:\WINDOWS\PRINTERS

Enabled: Include Subdirectories; Delete unknown files; Ignore file attributes on compare; Ignore file attributes on copy.

Example: Portable Computer File Update

If there are portable computers on your network, you can synchronize a subdirectory on the portable computer’s hard disk with a personal network drive on the server. This permits automatic transfer to the network of portable computer files that were created while the portable computer was not connected to the network.

The Directory Synchronization Job ensures absolute conformity between two directories. It ensures that the attributes are also equal. Files on the target that are not found on the source will be deleted, if so specified. Directories not found on the target will be created.

In some cases, you do not want all files and subdirectories in a directory to be synchronized. (For example, in an Agent Software directory, you do not want the PROTOCOL.INI and the HOST files to be equal throughout your network.) In this case, you should specify the files and directories, which should not be synchronized.

Example: File Exclusion

This is an example of how to exclude files from synchronization. Assume that the local C:\PW directory is synchronized with a default network directory F:\PWDEFAUL. As a system manager, you know that the PROTOCOL.ini file and all the *.TPL files of that directory must be excluded from synchronization, because those files contain unique values for each individual computer. (The directory BAK is also excluded).

Source: F:\PWDEFAUL

Target: C:\PW

Enabled: Include Subdirectories; Delete Files on Target if Unknown on Source.

Specified: Files not to be synchronized: *.TPL, PROTOCOL.INI, (DIR) BAK