Challenge 1

How to update user's data folders each day at logon with files that were updated the night before. Additionally, how to push system and application files out to users on the LAN/WAN on a daily basis.

PeerSync can be configured to run at startup of each PC to synchronize folders from a server to the user's local PC. Files such as collaboration or databases that get assembled off-line, and then need to be redistributed to the user's PC daily. A global telecommunications company has been using PeerSync to push updated files (Oracle form files) from a central server to all of their regional teleconferencing centers. These files contain the data that had been generated the previous day. Each user works off a local set of information so they can be more responsive to their customers, and not be delayed by network traffic across their WAN.

Additionally, PeerSync can be used to update software applications that may have been revised or updated without a technician having to physically go to each PC and copy the files.  PeerSync can synchronize data from a server directory specifically setup to contain updates that need to be "pulled" out to each individual PC.

Challenge 2

Keep two data folders on each office desktop backed-up to a server, and then backup up to tape for off site remote storage. Backed-up data must be recoverable with-in minutes of loss.

Run PeerSync on every office PC, monitoring selected data folders for changes. Upon detection of file change, PeerSync synchronizes selected folders to server backing up data immediately. Servers are then backed-up to tape on a weekly basis and tapes are stored off site. 

Typically, if you use tape backup as the primary back-up method, network traffic can be a problem, each PC in the office will have to be accessible during backup times rendering the PC unusable for a period of time. Data is only as good as the last scheduled backup, which could be days or weeks out of sync. Recovery of data can be difficult because first you have to locate the correct tape then, assuming the tape is recoverable; you have to wade through directory structures on the tape to identify the correct file to be recovered. This process can be time consuming and frustrating.

With the PeerSync scenario recovery of the file can be done from an active server so what took possibly hours or days (if tape is off-site) from a tape can be accomplished in minutes using PeerSync. Office PC's are backup in Real-Time so backed-up data is only seconds out of sync and PeerSync works in the back ground so the end-user may not even be aware that the synchronization is taking place.