[hurriken]

I have read on many different forums on how to set up Window Live Sync (formerly FolderShare) as a service on a WHS so that it stays active while logged off from the console. I'm having difficulty in just getting the original syncing happening. Ive used this software in the past on my desktops with no problems.

Here's the situation I'm having.

I've installed LiveSync on the WHS via a remote login.

When I select the folder I want to sync, and try to place it in the shared folder location,
the software doesn't do anything when I click. I can navigate through the folders on the Data drive but can't select to Sync Here, or create new folder.

I think it appears to be caused by JAVA not running on the WHS. I installed the latest JAVA for windows via Remote to the WHS, but still no luck. Rebooted just in case, still no luck. When I hover over the buttons the address is a JAVA script.

[John-D]

hurriken, on Apr 25 2009, 06:05 PM, said:

I have read on many different forums on how to set up Window Live Sync (formerly FolderShare) as a service on a WHS so that it stays active while logged off from the console. I'm having difficulty in just getting the original syncing happening. Ive used this software in the past on my desktops with no problems.

What source and target folder directory definitions are you using? I don't believe LiveSync supports mapped/redirected folders since its upgrade from FolderShare.

I use SyncToy 2.0 to keep my client data sync'd on WHS and to automate the backup of WHS Shared Folder data to an external drive. It will run on either the WHS server or from a client PC. If you don't need the Mac OS access (who does? ) support in LiveSync you may want to try SyncToy since it is very fast using its "echo" option.

Download from: http://www.microsoft...;displaylang=en

Overview: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SyncToy

[hurriken]

SyncToy 2.0 is a fine tool if I am working on my internal network and I use this already on my #1 WHS works great!, but for my purposes I need to sync files outside of my lan.

Let me explain where I am heading with this.

My specific purpose for this WHS build was to Syncronize (actually backup) the My Documents folders on 5 laptops at 3 separate locations. My plan was to create user accounts for each of the users, use Microsoft Live Sync to syncronize each of the My Documents folders on each laptop to the specific users shared files on the WHS.

My original plan was to open up the Web services on this second WHS, and allow the users to upload their documents to their account shares on the WHS. But there were two flaws to this plan. 1) I can't serve two websites through one IP address. 2) (The biggie) If I rely on the users to have to use the tool to backup thier files they just won't do it!! I've tried several backup programs in the past sending the files to an offsite web storage facility, But the users kept shutting down the backups because they were bogging down thier machines while they were trying to work.

I figured by going this route only changed files would be syncronized while the users were online, and should the user accidently delete a file they needed it would be in my WHS backup for me to recover. I know there is a 10000 file limit to Windows Live Sync, but that should not pose us a problem for the time being.

I think the only hangup I have with getting this working currently is the ability to get JAVA working on this WHS. I may have something to do with the limitations imposed by the OS on IE?

[John-D]

LiveSync is designed as a peer-to-peer technology useful when you do not have a server on the network. I too use SyncToy to store each users’ “My Documents” folder group (Users/xxxx/Documents on a Vista system) from each PC on my network on the WHS server. This is done automatically each day using Task Scheduler to run SyncToyCmd. This approach allows WHS to control all local and Web user access to those files.

Aside from the LiveSync problem you are having, I think you may want to reconsider the overall method of how you network multiple locations. There are a few ways to set-up a client-server network that are secure, reliable and perform well. Personally, I would connect your remote systems to the main LAN via a VPN connection to maintain centralized control through the WHS server. There is a Wiki on how to do this easily using standard RDC: http://wiki.wegotser...ows_Home_Server

[jodyn]

The other option to create a VPN is to install the Hamachi client on your WHS and then on each of the machines that you wish to connect remotely to the WHS. I use Synctoy and Hamachi with my laptop to keep files in sync for when i am away from home.

Hamachi

Hamachi wiki

[s.t.s]

Hi guys

Am I missing something with all you synctoy users ... why not just point the user's my docs folder to a server path and let the built in sync handle it. This is what I do. Is there a flaw to this method that I have not uderstood?

Cheers

Sam

[John-D]

s.t.s, on Apr 26 2009, 10:29 AM, said:

Hi guys

Am I missing something with all you synctoy users ... why not just point the user's my docs folder to a server path and let the built in sync handle it. This is what I do. Is there a flaw to this method that I have not uderstood?

Cheers

Sam

SyncToy can be used to maintain files and folders outside the default Shared Folders set used by WHS (e.g. Office documents). This allows multiple users to easily access this data at the file level from any PC on the LAN or via the Web. SyncToy supports bidirectional syncing and only updates files that were modified/renamed/deleted since the last sync so it is very network efficient. The running of SyncToy can also be scheduled for individual client PC's to automatically run as needed (hourly, daily, weekly).

[s.t.s]

Thanks John ... seems that for my purposes a network based mydocs will suffice just fine

[SammyBoy]

hurriken, on Apr 25 2009, 10:12 PM, said:

SyncToy 2.0 is a fine tool if I am working on my internal network and I use this already on my #1 WHS works great!, but for my purposes I need to sync files outside of my lan.

Let me explain where I am heading with this.

My specific purpose for this WHS build was to Syncronize (actually backup) the My Documents folders on 5 laptops at 3 separate locations. My plan was to create user accounts for each of the users, use Microsoft Live Sync to syncronize each of the My Documents folders on each laptop to the specific users shared files on the WHS.

My original plan was to open up the Web services on this second WHS, and allow the users to upload their documents to their account shares on the WHS. But there were two flaws to this plan. 1) I can't serve two websites through one IP address. 2) (The biggie) If I rely on the users to have to use the tool to backup thier files they just won't do it!! I've tried several backup programs in the past sending the files to an offsite web storage facility, But the users kept shutting down the backups because they were bogging down thier machines while they were trying to work.

I figured by going this route only changed files would be syncronized while the users were online, and should the user accidently delete a file they needed it would be in my WHS backup for me to recover. I know there is a 10000 file limit to Windows Live Sync, but that should not pose us a problem for the time being.

I think the only hangup I have with getting this working currently is the ability to get JAVA working on this WHS. I may have something to do with the limitations imposed by the OS on IE?

This is more of a sidenote, but in your context... JAVA has nothing to do with Javascript. And its hard to imagine your javascript is messed up, assuming you have a modern browser (ie 7+, firefox).

[Izeman]

hurriken, on Apr 25 2009, 11:05 PM, said:

I have read on many different forums on how to set up Window Live Sync (formerly FolderShare) as a service on a WHS so that it stays active while logged off from the console. I'm having difficulty in just getting the original syncing happening. Ive used this software in the past on my desktops with no problems.

Here's the situation I'm having.

I've installed LiveSync on the WHS via a remote login.

When I select the folder I want to sync, and try to place it in the shared folder location,
the software doesn't do anything when I click. I can navigate through the folders on the Data drive but can't select to Sync Here, or create new folder.

I think it appears to be caused by JAVA not running on the WHS. I installed the latest JAVA for windows via Remote to the WHS, but still no luck. Rebooted just in case, still no luck. When I hover over the buttons the address is a JAVA script.

The solution is easier than I thought.. - Select the folder on the WHS by accessing the sync website on a different machine then the WHS..

I had the same issue. 1 notebook and whs, wanting to sync when not at home. So I tried selecting a file logged on to the WHS locally or via RDP (no difference) but wasn't able to select the folder.

So Redirected My Document Folder to a Share called Documents. Created a subfolder with the name of the notebook.
Tried live sync website on WHS - adding folder still wouldnt work.

Then on the notebook I went to the sync website. Selected folder to sync, add computer and was able to add the folder I wanted to add on the WHS.

[using IE8 on both machines btw]