Distribute a PeerSync Profile to other machines on a network
Goal
To distribute a PeerSync Profile to multiple machines and then set it to run automatically at startup. Duplicating a PeerSync Profile is only allowed under special licensing agreements. Contact sales@peersoftware.com if you wish to take advantage of this special setup.
Pros and cons of saving a Profile on the network
Pros:
- You will not need to duplicate the PeerSync Profile on each individual user’s machine.
- The network administrator will be able to modify any of the jobs in the Profile at any time and not have to redistribute the file to all the other machines.
Cons:
- Users will be able to modify the PeerSync Profile (.snc) unless is it set to read-only access.
Preparation
Install PeerSync on one machine and follow the steps below to set up the specific job(s) you wish to run from multiple machines (e,g, synchronizing from multiple users’ machines to a backup location, such as a server).
Step-by-step guide
Part 1. Create a PeerSync Profile
1. Start PeerSync Profiler.
2. Double-click Add Folder Selection.
3. Specify the Source and Target folders.
To customize the Source and Target to be used on different machines, use the %UserName% variable in the path name.
For example:
Source - C:\Documents and Settings\%UserName%\My Documents\ (This specifies the individual’s My Documents directory.)
Target - Z:\BackUp\%UserName%\ (This specifies the individual’s backup directory on the server.)
4. Repeat Steps 1 through 3 if you need to set up additional Source/Target combinations.
5. Once you have created the jobs that you want to run on the different machines, save the profile on a network shared drive accessible to every other machine you wish to run the profile on:
- From the File menu, select Save As to give the Profile a name.
- Test the profile on one machine for the intended outcome and make any necessary changes.
- You now have the profile ready.
6. Create a shortcut to the Startup folder. This will ensure that the PeerSync will start automatically at log on.
- Go to File Shortcuts and add to Startup Folder.
- Select the needed options.
- Click OK.
Part 2. Create a Peer Sync installation folder to be distributed on other machines
You will need the following files:
| PeerSync.exe | The installation executable (e.g., PeerSync94-x64.exe) is the file used for the initial installation. If the file is not on the initial machine, you can download it from the Peer Software website, save it on your desktop, and then copy the file to the installation folder you are creating with the other necessary file described above. |
| PSDEF.cfg | The configuration file created from the installation on the initial machine. Get this file from your PeerSync directory (typically C:\Program Files\PeerSync). |
| PeerSync – ProfileName shortcut | The shortcut to the PeerSync profile. This file is located in your Startup folder. (You created it in Step 6 above.) During the installation on the other machines, this shortcut will be placed in the startup directory on those machines. |
To create a PeerSync installation folder for distribution and create a shortcut for PeerSync in the Startup folder:
- Duplicate the shortcut:
a. Go into your startup folder from your PeerSync interface.
b. Click Add to Startup and select Show Startup Folder.
c. In the window that appears, find the PeerSync shortcut previously created.
d. Right-click the shortcut and verify that the path to the profile is universal to all the users’ machines (such as using a UNC path to the profile).
e. Right-click Copy.
f. Paste the shortcut on your desktop for later retrieval. - Place PeerSync.exe and PSDEF.cfg in the installation folder (on your desktop or any other directory on your machine that will be easily accessible for retrieval) to be distributed on every other machine you wish to copy the configuration to.
- Place the shortcut to PeerSync in a subfolder of the installation folder, Add to Common Startup.
Part 3. Distribute the PeerSync installation folder to other machines
- Move the installation folder (created in Part 2) to a network directory location accessible to all the machines in need of the PeerSync installation and configuration.
- Make sure all the above files (from Part 2) remain in the same folder when the installation (.exe file) is launched on the other machines. This assures that the Profile file and the PeerSync shortcut are placed in the necessary directory of the individual’s machine.
- Once the installation folder has been moved to the network, install PeerSync in all the other locations by running the installation executable (PeerSync.exe).