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PSIsafe Synchronizer configuration

PSIsafe Synchronizer is an application designed to synchronize a wide variety of database options with your PSIsafe Desktop installation. Database entries are correlated to folder index values, and the PSIsafe Synchronizer application allows an administrator to map these connections in detail. This topic gives you a step-by-step walkthrough of the PSIsafe Synchronizer configuration process.

  1. Launch the PSIsafe Synchronizer application. By default PSIsafe Synchronizer is installed in C:\Program Files (x86)\CNG\Synchronizer. The executable name is Synchronizer.exe. A shortcut is also installed on the All Programs toolbar when you click on the Windows Start button. A standard PSIsafe login screen is displayed. Make sure the login credentials you use have Create access rights for the cabinet you will be updating with the PSIsafe Synchronizer.
  2. Enter a new setup name or pick from the existing list (if applicable). PSIsafe Synchronizer can be used to connect to many different databases and cabinets. A setup name is required for each database connection. The setup name is entered in the text box on the left under the caption Enter new Setup. If you are modifying a setup, simply select one from the list on the right.
  3. Input the PSIsafe Setup Information. PSIsafe Synchronizer connects a database to your existing PSIsafe Desktop installation. This step is used to select which Repository/Cabinet to connect the database to, as well as picking the default folder security classes of the created folders.
  4. Setting up a Data Source Name (DSN) is typically required to attach to most databases. Setting up a database connection is the most difficult step in the process of using PSIsafe Synchronizer. Much of the setup of a DSN and its corresponding database is dependent on a variety of factors outside the scope of this document. Once your DSN is configured and available, move on to the next step.
  5. Select the database using one of these two methods:

    1) DSN: check the Use DSN box and then select the appropriate DSN from the list provided.

    2) OLEDB connection string: check the Use OLEDB box.

  6. Click the Setup DB button.

    This displays a series of windows that allow you to pick your database driver, your database server and/or file, and the username/password (if any) that allows Synchronizer to log into the database.

  7. Select or create the data table. Data in a database is stored in tables and is accessible in several different ways. PSIsafe Synchronizer can use a standard database table, a query from a database, or a query can be built that can use data from several tables. If the database is relatively simple, it is likely that a single table selection will work.

    When the database is selected in the Connecting to a database section, PSIsafe Synchronizer reads a list of tables and queries from the database and lists them in the Select Table list. A table or query can easily be selected from the list.

  8. If you choose to select from a table, you must also select the “Use Data Table” check box and then select the table from the list box to the right.
  9. Alternatively, a query can be constructed that spans several tables. This is generally used when all of the pertinent information for a Cabinet within PSIsafe is stored in different tables. To start the process of building an SQL string, click the Build SQL button. The SQL query is then built with the relevant connections.

    The process for building a query is very similar to the Microsoft Access query builder. Tables and/or queries are selected from the right side of the screen and placed in the main tab. Then links between the tables are selected. Linked fields are displayed in the SQL string at the bottom of the screen. In this manner an SQL string can be produced with a minimum of effort.

  10. Map the index fields. Fields are selected from the database with the pull down list labeled DB Field List.

    PSIsafe Desktop folder indexes are selected from the pull down list labeled PSIsafe Indexes. When Add Link is clicked, a connection is made between the database field and the cabinet index. This is displayed in the table below the pull down lists. At least one of the database fields must be unique, and when linked to a cabinet index, the Primary Key check box above the Add Link button must be selected. This will be the field used to search for folders and either update or create them. Only one primary key index is allowed per setup.

    Optional Synching Parameters: If the database being used to link to PSIsafe Desktop has a large number of records, it is best to only update the cabinet folder indexes that have changed since the last time the PSIsafe Synchronizer was run. The database must support this by providing a date modified field. This field is changed to reflect the last time the database record was modified. The timer interval field is used to set the number of minutes between synchronizations when PSIsafe Synchronizer is running on Automatic Sync. The linked Folder Security allows PSIsafe Synchronizer to set the folder security level. The database value must match the folder security description defined in PSIsafe Desktop to operate.

Operating PSIsafe Synchronizer

Saving a Setup: In order to synchronize with the same database and not have to go through all of the setup steps on each synchronization, make sure you’ve saved the setup by clicking on the Save Setup button. The setup is saved with the setup name entered in Step 1. Make sure there is a setup name in the Enter New Setup text box at the top of the screen.

Deleting a Setup: A PSIsafe Synchronizer setup can be deleted by simply clicking Delete Setup.

Folders can now be synchronized in three different ways:

  1. Manually perform a synchronization by clicking Manual Sync.
  2. Automatically perform a synchronization every 1-60 seconds by entering a time and clicking on the Automatic Sync button. Syncing will continue until the button is clicked again.
  3. Use Windows Task Scheduler to schedule a sync time on a regular basis and run PSIsafe Synchronizer through command prompt.

Configuring the Synchronizer Console’s Login

  1. Run Command prompt (Click Start> Type “cmd” and press Enter).
  2. Type “cd/” and press Enter.
  3. Type “cd Program Files (x86)\CNG\Synchronizer” and press Enter.
  4. Type “SynchronizerConsole.exe –sl –ns” and press Enter.

    In the Login Window, enter the PSIsafe Synchronizer account username & password, and click Login. This account is used for PSIsafe Synchronizer at regularly scheduled intervals, so make sure it is assigned an appropriate license type that will not be in use by another user and that the account has the proper rights as previously mentioned.

  5. Close the Command Prompt window.

    Additional commands and parameters:

    “-ns” No Sync“

    "-sl” Save login info“

    "-ul” Use saved login info

    “-rs” Run Continuous

    “-h” help

Regularly Scheduled Synchronizations with Windows Task Scheduler

Windows Task scheduler can assist with automatic synchronizations from a Command Prompt window.

Preparing the Synchronizer Console for Windows Task Scheduler

Here is a command line mode that works with the synchronizer to enable an IT person to set up regularly scheduled synchronizations. This is accomplished by running the PSIsafe Synchronizer Console from a Command Prompt window. This task will run every minute and look at each of the PSIsafe Synchronizer setups that are in the database. If it is time for that particular synchronization to run again, a synchronization is performed. Otherwise the console goes back to sleep.

To run the Command Prompt window minimized on the scheduled synchronization time, create a shortcut to the batch file and modify the properties to run in a minimized state.

Setup the Windows Task Scheduler Instance

To create a Windows Task scheduler instance:

  1. Browse in File Explorer to: C:\Program Files (x86)\CNG\Synchronizer\
  2. Create a text File with the following exactly:“C:\Program Files\CNG\Synchronizer\SynchronizerConsole.exe” –ul
  3. Save the file as a batch file with .BAT as the extension.
  4. Create a shortcut to the batch file and modify the properties to run minimized. This setting can be found in Properties > Shortcut > Run Minimized.
  5. Open Windows Task Scheduler and create a new task. Point the task to the shortcut, and be sure to add Administrator-level credentials to the task as well.

    In these settings, be sure to adjust the schedule of the synchronizations to meet your unique needs.

  6. Adjust the settings in the General options, Triggers, Actions, and Additional Settings areas accordingly.
    The conditions will likely remain unchanged. Overall, discuss the needed frequency of your synchronizations internally, account for the stress that a synchronization may put on your system, and adjust the values to suit your needs.