Hi Peter!

Loving the new module, got it installed but still have a few questions, especially concerning the repository. We are planning to use DMX on our Intranet, and I have several different locations on the Intranet that are NOT under the same physical path.

They are all on the same physical SERVER, but in many folders. Am I correct in assuming there is only ONE (1) repository? Or is there a way that I can point each folder in DMX to a specific folder via UNC path?

Hi Chad,

Just making sure we're on the same page. DMX stores all the content it manages in its own repository. This repository can be on a UNC path, in SQL and even in S3. This does not mean it can be pointed at a UNC path and that it will take existing content there and start to manage it. DMX needs to copy in any content you have before it can manage it. I've tried to explain the details of this in the "getting started" manual as it is a source of confusion.

To help those that have existing content that they'd like DMX to manage there are 2 ways to go about this:
1. Import the existing content. Make a folder in DMX, set permissions as you need them and then select "Import" on the folder menu. That takes you to an import wizard. The files are copied into DMX and then managed in DMX. The advantage is that this is a one time operation and hence it is quick and efficient.
2. Create a Sync Folder. This can point to a UNC path. DMX will then try to keep the contents in DMX and on the remote path synchronized. This process consumes processing power and is not endlessly scalable. Plus there is a dependency on the path being available and having correct time stamps on the files. In all the advantage is that you can have a synchronized folder reflecting changes on the remote path. The downside is that due to external dependencies it cannot be guaranteed to be 100% accurate over time.

I hope this answers your question.

Peter

Peter, I was reading somewhere about sync folders. I'm afraid this might be a bit much in my case, because I have close to 1 TB of files that would need to be synchronized. This presents more questions, though.

1. If I am in a windows domain environment, but my web server is not attached to the domain, how would I connect a sync folder via UNC path? What users/accounts need permissions to the UNC path to make it work?

2. If I create a sync folder, will the folder have the same name in the DMX repository, or will DMX apply it's own naming conventions on the hard disk?

Thanks,
Chad

Hi Chad,

1 Tb over sync is probably not an option. About permissions:

1. Not. Both servers need to be in the same domain or at least the server where files go/are needs to be able to identify the web server's probing of its disk. This means the app pool identity (which ASP.NET/DNN/DMX uses) needs to be known on the remote server. And INDEXING SERVICE is not as it's a local account. You'll need to change this.

2. The base sync folder can be named whatever. But below that all content is 'stuck together'. So keep folder names the same for instance or sync keeps deleting and recreating stuff.

Peter