AirVision offers the capability to automatically sync with other AirVision computers or with AV-Trend computers in the field. This synchronization capability provides for either data to be synchronized, as well as (optionally) configuration tables. Note that a broadband connection is required, dial-up modems are too slow to support synchronization (in this case, the AirVision Central should still poll the site data logger).

To enable Synchronization, the AirVision Central must have the Microsoft Sync Framework loaded. This can be downloaded from:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=c3b2f32b-12a9-40b8-9e83-c452ac546c49&displaylang=en#Instructions

Only the Synchronization Tools and the Database Providers needs to be installed. Make sure to install the proper version (x86 or x64) for your version of SQL Server.

You will also need to enable the Sync Service in your Server Configuration by going to Configuration->Server Configuration, opening the icon related to your server, and using the open pick list row to add two plug-ins (and click them as enabled and auto-start):

• Database Sync Provisioning service
• Database Sync Processing Service
  

To set up the synchronization tasks, you must first define the route used to communicate between the nodes. This should be in the form of a SQL connection string. Commonly, this would take the form of the site's IP address, assuming that your router is programmed to direct the correct ports for SQL traffic.

Set the route by selecting Configuration Editors->Sync->Sync Connection Editor. Use the "Add Connection" button to create the route and add:

• Connection Name - use any descriptive name
• Connection Type - use "SQL Server Direct Connection"
• Connection String- type the SQL connection and authentication string (e.g., Data Source=myServerAddress;Initial Catalog=myDataBase;User Id=myUsername;Password=myPassword;)
• 
  

Secondly, select the Sync Contract to define what things will be synchronized with each site using Configuration Editors->Sync Contract Editor. Use the "Add Contract" button to create a record for each computer you want to synchronize to. Enter the:

• Contract Name - use any descriptive name
• Sync Direction- choose upload, download, or both, with a preferred order (e.g., download, then upload). This order sets the precedence between the two computers.
• For a setup from AirVision to AV-Trend site PC, you probably want to set Download only for data
• You may set several contracts for the same PC, so you can set Upload Only, or Upload Then Download for configuration.
• (Note that "download" is used in a different way than historically E-DAS referred to 'download logger configuration', which was actually an incorrect convention).
  
• Sync Scope- this defines the kind of data to be exchanged (Data, or Configuration)
• Remote Sync Connection- choose from a list of your configured connections.
• Site Restriction Filter- For each site contract, you will want to set the Site Filter to only consider downloads/uploads for that particular site.

You may also restrict the kinds of Average Intervals that are synchronized using the Filter settings at the bottom.


Once this is done, you can now do the initial download to the AV-Trend computer (or regional node). This is a two-step process:

1. Select Utilities->Sync->Sync Contract Provisioning. Select the Contract and use the "Provision Contract" button. This prepares the database for internal settings necessary for sync.
2. Select Utilities->Database Sync to actual run a synchronization. For the first time run, select your configuration download contract.

Finally, each contract can be scheduled in the Task Schedule Editor for how often they occur, using Add->Database Sync Task. Here, you need to only define the Start Time, the Interval, and the Contract that you created.


Special Notes Regarding Required SQL Configuration for AV-Trend (or regional node) Computers:

• TCP/IP Protocol must be enabled using SQL Configuration Tool
• SQL Server must be configured to allow Remote Connections
• 'sa' account must be enabled (under Security) and the correct password must be set in the connection string
  
• Firewall should allow ports 1433 and 1434 open on the AV-Trend PC, router, and intervening firewalls.
  

For more information:

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/sql_protocols/archive/2007/05/13/sql-network-interfaces-error-26-error-locating-server-instance-specified.aspx


An Easy VPN for Windows 7 Site PCs (less than 5 minutes):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1s5JxMG06L4