Synchronise/Replicate drive across Network

[AlecB]

This seems like the best group for this query I have...

I have currently on an NT 4 server a shared drive that is mapped to every user who logs on to the domain.

The domain is across 2 buildings through a fibre link. I want to avoid instances where because there is a connection issue the people in the building where the shared drive is not located cant access this resource. The drive is approximately 14Gb in size so having the clients (all w2k workstations) synchronise with the drive is not suitable.

In the new year this share will be migrated to a win2k server (hence my thread here) at the same time as I finish migrating from token ring to ethernet. This is when I would like to set something up where they have some sort of locally cached copy of this share.

If there is a solution, what is the best way to do this. As a consideration, I need a fairly cheap solution.

Thanks in advance
&
Merry Xmas!

Alec

 

[SelbyGlenn]

Is this shared data read only? If so then you can use DFS to mirror the data. If this is data that both sites are writing to then there is no cheap solution. You can use DFS but it will over write a newly edited file if the file was open and edited simultaneously on both sites. Another option is to use some kind of terminal server connection to the central database. Citrix will work a treat but you'll pay thought the nose for it!

Hope this helps, Glenn
BEng A+ MCSE CCA

 

[SelbyGlenn]

Is this shared data read only? If so then you can use DFS to mirror the data. If this is data that both sites are writing to then there is no cheap solution. You can use DFS but it will over write a newly edited file if the file was open and edited simultaneously on both sites. Another option is to use some kind of terminal server connection to the central database. Citrix will work a treat but you'll pay through the nose for it!

Hope this helps, Glenn
BEng A+ MCSE CCA

 

[AlecB]

This is where I thought the problems would come in as some data will need to be written to by both sides.

 

[SelbyGlenn]

Then you've got to have a central database. I had to fork out lots of money on a Citrix solution to enable several remote offices to gain access to the database. I'm affraid there is no cheap solution. :-( Glenn
BEng A+ MCSE CCA

 

[richgill]

How about Terminal Server on Windows 2000 as opposed to Citrix? I use it for accessing servers around the world (Tokyo, London, NY) and the speed is OK. I would have thought 2 buildings separated by a fiber link would be OK.

But I guess if it is a mapped drive then Terminal Server or Citrix may not be what you are after. You could use software like DoubleTake (

http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/product.cfm?id=111)

but I couldn't tell you the cost.

 

[neilcresswell]

You could always setup a SAN and have the SAN mirror the data over the fibre link. The cost for this will vary from the minor to major depending on the speed of replication etc..

N