The workstation utility FSSync (File Service Synchronization) was written in 2003 to perform some simple file copy tasks in the network I have to maintain. It's neither very good looking and maybe not intuitive - it's "designed" to do the job it was made for: Perform some unattended action and send results via e-mail.
However...recently I started to add the first functionality for NetWare: Purge. After using this feature successfully since weeks now I decided to make it available to other people.
WARNING: USE THIS PROGRAM AT YOUR OWN RISK !
Although I use the program with all features every day (mostly unattended by a locked workstation) I can't give any guarantee to be safe from data loss or corruption.
Unzip the file(s) into a seperate folder.
If you don't have Novell Client installed, you need a copy of the following files in fssync's program folder:
These libraries can't be distributed here: Download the Novell Client from here.
If you want to run the program on a machine without any Novell server around: Install the client, copy the library files to the fssync folder and deinstall the client
When running for the first time the program will create subfolders:
The current version won't make any changes to registry or other files - that's why there is no uninstall procedure needed.
When running for the first time both directory panels will be empty: For purge only the left one is needed, open it by either using the simple folder symbol (browse) or it's neighbour (enter directory name manually).
When the left view is opened you can continue browsing up and down (up to volume/drive root). The directory shown will be used as the base for the operation, EXCEPT something is selected: If one or more entries are selected those will be used instead of the entire directory. (for multiple selections use shift+left-mouse-click). To make sure nothing is selected a button at the upper right above the view is available.
From the main menu select Job -> Options (CTRL+O).
What the tabs are for:
Select the action to perform (click "NW Purge")
To view/change one of the four name filters: Click the button, use "Add" or "Remove" to change the filter to your needs. While empty filters will appear in gray any filled filter lists will be displayed in yellow.
For filenames use simple filters like *.tmp.
Directory filters work as "containing" strings, so a directory will be included or excluded from processing if one of the filter strings is a part of the entire directory path. (example: I'm running a purge job containing "Windows NT 5.0" and "Windows NT 5.1" to target user's profiles in their home directory, if used with copy something like "\Windows NT 5.1 Workstation Profile\" could be used to make it more accurate.
Files older than...days:
For purge this one will be compared to the deleted file time, use -1 to ignore time.
(Note: Although Analyze is a small feature only - this option can be used to track folder
structures older than a specific time)
Dirs Include Max Filter Depth:
Use this one in conjunction with Directory Include Filter to
save processing time, the subfolder process will stop at this level to search for
Include Directory matches (break scanning further down).
still in work (but should work as visible).
Enter your smtp mail address, click "Add". Select the entry from list and click the options you need at the right (no more documentation atm)
To make the notification work you'll need an SMTP server accepting mail w/o logon. SMTP information needs to be configured once via "File-Options" from main menu.
Press "OK" to apply option changes. You may want to save the job now: From main menu use File -> Save as.
Enter a name into the description field in the middle.
Click "SUBMIT" (if "Run now" is checked it should start immediately, I don't use this one often).
In schedule dialog:
Set Execution time and repeat options if needed, click "Hold" to prevent the job from
running automatically.
"Queued Job" is used to place the job into the regular scheduler queue, the queue has
to be activated to enable this option (see 6.). If not queued the job will be removed from
job list after program shutdown.
"OK" will place the job into the job list.
To start the job you can use the small PLAY-button at the right. If there's any schedule for the job this button is grayed but you can use the button with "Run now" at the top right above the job list (simple jobs and scheduled jobs are handled differently, "Run now" may have a few seconds delay). If a job is running you can PAUSE or STOP it by using the small buttons.
Note on "Run Now": Can be used to run a scheduled job without touching the schedule plan.
The scheduler queue is stored in the subfolder FSQ and needs to be activated before it can be used. This can be done manually by using Queue -> Load from the main menu or by command line: FSSYNC.EXE QLOAD . Loading the queue means all jobs stored in the queue folder are loaded into the job list and are ready to be processed.
The job schedule can be viewed/changed by using the schedule button (Reschedule job) above. To change options or source/target use the "Edit Job" button, make the changes and use SUBMIT to apply the changes.
Up to 8 different jobs can run at the same time, the start of more jobs is delayed until an active job is finished.
The program tries to translate to codepage 850, works fine for me. If something fails there the purge process may stop (see log page).
Of course I know there are lots of things that could be improved...
you can send me a message
Dirk Hümmer