Server Sync Software Suggestions?

[jetspank]

We are a custom publishing firm looking for a server sync solution that will allow users in our DC and NY offices to work together to produce a magazine. Users on both sides will need to be able to edit Adobe InDesign and Photoshop files. Working with Adobe files requires that while editing the file is saved on the local computer or a local network server. The challenge is to find a way to work on files from both offices that will not require cumbersome procedures on either side but will also insure that we are not editing different versions of the same file.

Our primary network infrastructure is located in the DC office but we also have a file server in the NY office that can be used. All servers are Windows 2008 R2. Users are on Macintosh computers running Snow Leopard. We have a site to site VPN connecting the two offices. 20MB internet in NY. 10.5 MB internet in DC.

Any and all suggestions are much appreciated!

 

[esmith214]

I'd suggest Mediabeacon from Brightech. (My company is a reseller.) It is a digital asset management system that works with native files. It provides all the usual DAM options like previews, grouping, searching by tags, keywords and file characteristics as well as XMP metadata. There are also fine grained access controls and a check in/out system to control editing and a versioning system to keep track of updates.

We've set it up for a number of customers to use via remote links and internet access.

If you lie more info, contact me at [email protected]. We can arrange online and 30 day on-site demos.

 

[mattbeals]

You may want to consider Helios Ethershare OPI. Syncing files between servers is something that can do in Windows using File Replication Services. The problem is what to do with a two-way sync. Who's server is right. Even with fat connections like the ones you specify it can take forever and a day to do the sync each time it happens. A "standard" network is 100Mb/sec, more modern ones are 1000Mb/sec, or 10 to 100 times faster than your WAN connection.

 

[Tom Hallinan]

Actually, HELIOS WebShare Manager is designed specifically for the remote access and syncing of project files. WebShare enables fast and secure remote file browsing, viewing, management, and transfers using any web browser. WebShare Manager (included as part of WebShare) adds drag & drop file transfer support, as well as automatic one-way or two-way synchronization of file changes. It is project oriented, so only files within a given "project" get synchronized, and each project can have its own sync schedule. A "Quick Start" video will soon be posted to the HELIOS web site; in the meantime, the other WebShare videos and test server access can provide an overview. See <http://www.helios.de/web/EN/support/wsdemo.html>. Contact me on or off-line with any questions.

Tom Hallinan
HELIOS Software GmbH

 

[[email protected]]

CSS Group has network services that install on both servers, that report all file system changes to a central database. Operators can view and manage files (just like they are on the file servers directly) through a web portal, or they can work directly with the local file servers and the database captures all the events that have occured, then forwards them to the remote server. Regardless of file types and sizes, Datamanager can work with everything.
Thanks

Steve MacKenzie
1-800-448-8432