How to implement installation point reporting and replication

Step

Task

How to...

Select one installation point as a media master installation point.

At the top level of the installation point hierarchy, there is always the media master installation point, where all new files, installation media, patches, and drivers are uploaded. From the media master installation point, the files are then automatically replicated to 1st level slave installation points, where the files are replicated onwards to 2nd level slave installation points and so on.

1. To select the media master installation point, go to Installation points view and select the installation point that you wish to designate as a media master installation point.

2. Open the installation point item page of the selected installation point and set the "Media master" field to "Yes".

3. Use the "Host name" field to select a management client for the media master installation point. The management client determines which device is responsible for performing the reporting and replication tasks on the installation point.

4. Use the "Replication settings" field to determine the maximum amount of concurrent replications for the installation point (e.g. value 10 means that no more than ten installation points can replicate the files from the media master installation point concurrently).

5. Since the file report of media master´s files is used as a comparison basis for the replication throughout the replication hierarchy, it is highly recommended to configure the media master installation point to report frequently (recommended value: 1 hour). This is an optional step.

Add an installation point to the installation point replication hierarchy.

To optimize the performance and reliability of installation point replication, it is advisable to organize installation points in a hierarchical topology, which is based on the physical location or quality of the network connections of the installation points. Therefore, the media master installation point should not be a direct parent for all other installation points, but instead it is recommended to form replication chains that are based on the properties of an installation point.

1. Go to Installation points view and switch to tree view.

2. Get familiar with the installation point hierarchy that is shown in the tree view and plan where you want to add the installation point.

3. Write down or memorize the host name of the installation point that you wish to use as a parent for the installation point that you are adding to replication hierarchy.

4. Go to the installation point item page (of the installation point that you wish to add to the replication hierarchy) and select the installation point that you wrote down as a parent for the installation point.

Configure installation point reporting and replication settings

Installation point media reporting schedule determines how often Miradore checks whether the files on the installation point are up-to-date and synchronized with the media master installation point or not. If the files are out-of-date and replication is enabled for the installation point, Miradore will automatically replicate the changed files from the media master installation to the particular installation point. If the replication enabled = No, then the configurations affect only to the installation point reporting.

1. Use the "Host name" field to select a management client for the installation point. The management client determines which device is responsible for performing the reporting and replication tasks on the installation point.

2. Configure the installation point reporting schedule from the installation point item form using "Schedule" field.

3. Define how many concurrent child replications are allowed for this installation point by using the "Replication settings" field (e.g. value 5 means that no more than five installation points can replicate the files from this installation point concurrently).

4. If necessary, define files or folders that should not be replicated from this installation point to the other installation points using the "Exclude files" and "Exclude folders" fields. You can also define global exclusion settings for files and folders from "Administration > System settings > Installations management > Installation point replication settings".

See Installation point item attributes for field descriptions.

Enable installation point replication.

Installation point replication duplicates the files from the parent installation point to the installation point in question.

1. Go to the installation point item page and set the field "Replication enabled" to "Yes" to activate the automated replication of the installation point files. Once the Replication enabled = Yes, the files and folders from the parent installation point are duplicated to this installation point according to the installation point reporting that compares the files at this installation point with the files at the media master installation point. The replication is performed according to the interval defined to the "Schedule" field.

Make sure that replication is enabled for the whole replication chain

It is possible that the replication feature is enabled for an installation point, but not for it's parent. Therefore, it is advisable to make sure that the replication is enabled for all installation points that belong to the same replication chain if there are more than two levels in the installation point hierarchy.

1. Go to installation points view and switch to Tree view. Examine which installation points have the replication feature enabled and then check that the replication is also enabled for the parent installation points as well. Otherwise, Miradore cannot replicate the files from the media master through the installation point hierarchy to the installation point that is on the bottom of the hierarchy.

Notice that replication can be disabled for a parent installation point if some other method (e.g. Robocopy) is used for performing the replication.

Repeat the steps 2-5 to add more slave installation points to the replication hierarchy.

Additional installation points can be added to installation point hierarchy by repeating the steps 2-5.