File management on installation points
Each instance of Miradore can have multiple installation points which contain the installation media for operating systems and software, drivers, patches, package configuration files, and internal components of Miradore.
To keep the important files up-to-date and synchronized between the installation points, Miradore provides a built-in file management capability that can be used to report the file status on each installation point and replicate the changed files between the installation points.
Slave installation points provide an exact duplicate of files and folders on the media master installation point
The main concept of Miradore’s installation point file management feature is to designate one installation point as media master, which is used as comparison basis for file status reporting and initial data source for file replication. All other installation points serve as slaves and compare their file reports to the file report of the media master installation point. If the files on the media master installation point have changed, the changes are replicated to the slave installation points as well.
Build a hierarchical replication topology
The media master installation point doesn't necessarily have to be a direct parent for all other installation points. Instead, it is advisable to organize the installation points in a hierarchical topology, which is based on the physical location or the quality of network connections of the installation points (Picture 1). At the top level of the 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.
Picture 1: It is recommended to organize installation points in a hierarchical topology according to the physical location of the installation points
Notice that the file replication can be enabled and disabled on each installation point separately. Therefore, any files are not replicated to such installation points that have the replication feature disabled. Also if there are many levels on the installation point hierarchy, it is possible that some of the mid-level installation points has the replication feature disabled, when the installation points at the lower levels of the hierarchy cannot replicate with the media master installation point.
Requirements
Currently the Miradore´s file management features (reporting and replication) are supported on Linux and Windows computers.
Miradore client for Windows 3.0 or newer must be installed to the computers hosting the installation points.
Administrator credentials with write access to network shares are required to perform file replication. When enabling replication for an installation point, make sure that you also configure 'Write authentication' credentials for the installation point's "Setup" folder. Avoid giving excessive user rights for the user account.
Excluding files or folders from the replication
In the "Administration > System settings > Installations management > Installation point replication settings", it is possible to enter names of the files or folders that should never be replicated from an installation point to another. Use ';' as a delimiter between multiple names. This is a global setting which impacts to all installation points.
Global settings for file exclusions
If you want to exclude a specific folder, give the full path from the installation point's root to the folder, starting with backslash:
\Software\Common\Adobe
You can specify multiple folders by separating them with a semicolon:
\Software\Common\Adobe;\Software\Common\Microsoft
If you want to exclude a specifically named folder under any path on the installation point, leave out the backslash from the beginning:
Linux
You can also define a folder using a part of the full path, like:
OS\Linux
File exclusion settings for certain installation points
In addition to that, it is possible to define similar file or folder exclusion rules at the Installation point item page. However, when doing so, the exclude rules only apply to the installation point itself and to it's child installation points, but they don't have any impact to the possible parent installation points. Installation point form also displays the exclusion rules that it has inherited from the parent installation points (picture below).
Notice
Miradore Management Suite automatically excludes some log files and configuration files from file replication.
Related to
See also