DB Sync Server

The MBS system contains a database synchronisation server which allows 2 databases to be synchronised. There can be many reasons for wanting to so this:

provide a database backup
make certain data available for online enquiries via a website
running mulitple sites each with a local database for efficiency, but with a central database for common data

The DB Sync Server requires an additional licence to be purchased (unless a master licence has been purchased).

Creating Sync Job Files

A sync job file is an XML file which describes how what data is to be synchronised. A typical file is as follows:

	<?xml version="1.0"?>

	<config>

	<info>

	<name>download contacts</name>

	</info>

	<localdatabase>

	<type>jet</type>

	<name>C:\Database\MBSdatabase_V2.mdb</name>

	</localdatabase>

	<remotedatabase>

	<type>mysql</type>

	<host>dbserver</host>

	<port>3306</port>

	<name>mbs</name>

	<user>dbuser</user>

	<pass>pass2db</pass>

	</remotedatabase>

	<syncgroups>

	<general>down</general>

	<contacts>down</contacts>

	</syncgroups>

	<control>

	<interval>60</interval>

	</control>

	</config>

The XML file consists of a number of sections.

Section	Parameter	Description
info	name	A text field showing the name of the job. Reserved for use by a future DB sync control tool.
localdatabase / remotedatabase		A section describing the connection details of the local and remote database. Both sets of parameters are the same and described below.
	type	The database type, can be one of: mysql, jet or sqlserver
	host	The database hostname (mysql and sqlserver only)
	port	The database port (mysql only)
	name	mysql and sqlserver - the database name jet - the database filename
	user	The database access username (mysql and sqlserver only)
	pass	The database access password (mysql and sqlserver only)
control	interval	Specifies the interval in seconds between subsequent runs of this job
syncgroups		Each group listed has a synchronisation control list which can be one or more of up, down, both and remove where up = data is uploaded to remote server down = data is download from remote server both = data is both uploaded and downloaded remove = data is removed from the target (local or remote depending on direction) where the source data has been remove. ** Should only be used in a single direction ** there are a number of sync groups general - general data tables such as text info (gender definitions, etc) and scancodes contacts - all contact related tables members - all membership related tables loyaltypoints - all loyalty points related tables visits - all visit related tables memberinsurance - member insurance tables memberlicences - member licence tables

At present if a control job is modified, added or removed the DB Sync Service must be manually restarted using the Windows Service Manager