File synchronization addon released

POZNAN, ESPOO, Feb 10th 2003

We are pleased to announce the release of the Aegir CMS File Synchronization Addon, a powerful tool for managing files and content across multiple Aegir CMS installations.

What is File Sync?

The File Synchronization Addon provides automated synchronization of files, images, and documents between Aegir CMS installations. This is particularly useful for organizations with multiple servers or development/staging/production environments.

Key Features

Bidirectional Synchronization

  • Two-way sync — Changes propagate in either direction
  • Conflict detection — Identifies when the same file has been modified on both sides
  • Conflict resolution — Configurable strategies for handling conflicts
  • Selective sync — Choose which directories or file types to synchronize

Staging to Production Workflow

  • One-way sync — Push changes from staging to production
  • Scheduled deployment — Automatic synchronization at specified times
  • Manual approval — Review changes before they go live
  • Rollback capability — Revert to previous versions if needed

Multi-Server Environments

  • Load-balanced setups — Keep multiple web servers synchronized
  • Geographic distribution — Sync between servers in different locations
  • CDN preparation — Prepare files for content delivery networks
  • Backup automation — Synchronize to backup servers

Use Cases

Development Workflow

Maintain separate development, staging, and production environments:

  1. Developers work on development server
  2. Completed work is synchronized to staging for testing
  3. Approved changes are pushed to production
  4. All file changes are tracked and reversible

High-Availability Setup

Keep multiple production servers synchronized:

  • Upload files to one server
  • Automatic synchronization to other servers
  • All servers serve identical content
  • Improved reliability and performance

Distributed Teams

Enable teams in different locations to work on the same site:

  • Each location has a local Aegir CMS instance
  • Changes synchronize between locations
  • Reduced latency for content editors
  • Centralized or distributed content management

Technical Details

Synchronization Methods

The addon supports multiple synchronization protocols:

  • SSH/SCP — Secure, encrypted file transfer
  • RSYNC — Efficient differential synchronization
  • FTP/FTPS — Compatible with standard hosting environments
  • WebDAV — HTTP-based file synchronization

Filtering and Selection

  • Include/exclude patterns — Specify which files to sync using patterns
  • File type filtering — Synchronize only specific file types
  • Size limits — Skip files above a certain size
  • Date-based selection — Sync only recently modified files

Change Tracking

  • MD5 checksums — Verify file integrity
  • Modification timestamps — Track when files were changed
  • Sync history — Log of all synchronization operations
  • Change notifications — Email alerts for synchronized changes

Configuration

Setting up file synchronization is straightforward:

Basic Setup

  1. Install the File Sync addon on both source and destination servers
  2. Configure connection parameters (hostname, credentials, protocol)
  3. Specify directories to synchronize
  4. Set synchronization schedule or trigger method
  5. Test the configuration

Advanced Options

  • Bandwidth throttling — Limit network usage
  • Compression — Reduce transfer size for large files
  • Encryption — Secure file transfers
  • Retry logic — Automatically retry failed transfers
  • Pre/post scripts — Run custom scripts before or after synchronization

Security Considerations

The File Sync addon includes security features:

  • Encrypted connections — Support for SSH and FTPS
  • Key-based authentication — No passwords transmitted
  • Access control — Restrict sync operations to authorized users
  • Audit trail — Complete log of all sync operations
  • File validation — Verify transferred files

Performance

The addon is designed for efficiency:

  • Differential sync — Transfer only changed portions of files
  • Parallel transfers — Multiple files simultaneously (configurable)
  • Resume capability — Continue interrupted transfers
  • Minimal overhead — Efficient change detection

Integration with Aegir CMS

The File Sync addon integrates with Aegir CMS features:

  • Staging/live workflow — Synchronize files when publishing from staging
  • Content synchronization — Works alongside content replication
  • User interface — Manage sync settings through Aegir admin interface
  • Permissions — Respects Aegir CMS user permissions

System Requirements

  • Aegir CMS 1.0 beta3 or later (RC1 recommended)
  • PHP 4.1.0 or later
  • Appropriate protocol support (SSH/SCP, RSYNC, FTP, or WebDAV)
  • Network connectivity between servers
  • Sufficient disk space on both source and destination

Download and Installation

The File Synchronization Addon is available from the Download page. Installation instructions are included in the package.

Installation Steps

  1. Download the addon package
  2. Extract to your Aegir CMS components directory
  3. Run the installation script
  4. Configure synchronization settings
  5. Test with a small directory first

Documentation

Complete documentation is available:

  • Installation guide — How to set up the addon
  • Configuration reference — All available options explained
  • Common scenarios — Example configurations for typical use cases
  • Troubleshooting — Solutions to common problems
  • API documentation — For developers integrating sync functionality

License

The File Synchronization Addon is available under the same license as Aegir CMS (HKLC Nadmin Studio Interface License).

Support

For questions or issues with the File Sync addon:

Future Development

Planned enhancements for future versions:

  • Web-based conflict resolution interface
  • More granular filtering options
  • Support for additional protocols
  • Performance improvements for very large file sets
  • Better integration with version control systems

Get Started

If you manage multiple Aegir CMS installations or need to keep files synchronized across servers, the File Synchronization Addon can save time and reduce errors. Download it today from the Download page!