well if you have windows servers depending on the traffice you can use DFS quite successfully. If you have Linux servers locally to the clients then i would probably look into rsync the real challenge is how much delta to the same set of files from what locations you will see.. this becomes a logistical nightmare. On Mon, Apr 9, 2012 at 5:37 PM, James Dugger wrote: > Hello all, > > I have a Company that has recently co-located their Windows 2003 Server to a > datacenter.  The system has been in a LAN environment for 15 years.  The > main file server consists of 2 Dell 2800 poweredge file servers with just > under 2 TB of stored files on these 2 servers in an array (don't know what > type either 5, or 10).  The company is an engineering firm and so the > project files involve AutoCAD .DWG, .DWF, and PDF drawings, along with > excel, doc, and pst files (exchange server is also co-located with the > database at 16 GB but is physically separate from the file server). > > The clients to this system are now connecting through VPNs to do work on > their workstations.  In principle it sounds great however the biggest issue > is the AutoCAD drawings.  The average drawing file in AutoCAD Civil3D is not > small 100K to 250K and each file references other shared networked drawings > (called externally referenced drawings).  These files can be the same or > larger.  This presents an issue with bandwidth (they are limited to 5Mbps > for the entire firm to share). > > I was thinking that each work site would improve there performance by > setting up an onsite mirror of the co-located file server and that each site > mirror would sync to the co-located server  2 -3 times per day.  This would > be only for the file server, exchange would continue pointed to the > co-location site. > > My questions are based on using Linux w/Samba on a file server to mirror and > sync with the Windows file server: > > 1. What recommendations for FOSS backup synchronization software does anyone > have experience with that they could recommend for this type of use. > > 2.  Given the fact that populating the mirrors will take an enormous amount > of time up front is there any recommendations again with item 1. or > procedurally that will make this an easier process. > > 3.   Any other pitfalls or thoughts regarding the VPN, tunneling, ssh, > connections between mirrors etc that come to mind again in relation to FOSS > software, Linux and Samba. > > Just as a further note, the files stored on the server are standard Office > documents and AutoCAD formats, as well as jpeg, TIFF, PDF, GIF.  there are > no databases or web servers running on the system to contend with. > > Thanks in advance for your thoughts and advice > > -- > James > > > > --------------------------------------------------- > PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us > To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: > http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss -- A mouse trap, placed on top of your alarm clock, will prevent you from rolling over and going back to sleep after you hit the snooze button. Stephen --------------------------------------------------- PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss