Overview

How to sync a central config to one or more Client PCs in a network

Central Configs

In a network, you may create  one or more configs and as of v 6.0.0, sync them to one or more client PCs on your network. Thus you can centralize all your setup, without needing to run to each Client PC and copy your config files, or hide when your family screams that you forgot to update their PC!

The MyFilms.xml config file is stored locally in the MediaPortal program data folder on each Client PC, but now you can update it from a central network location. The config settings will be updated when the client PC starts MediaPortal.

There are several 'use cases' supported:

1. Always sync all clients to the central config
2. Sync some clients but not others
3. Manually sync the config once to one or more client PCs, and then modify the config options locally - useful for initially installing My FIlms on several PCs.

Enable Central Config synching

To enable syncing of a central config you must:

1. Sync to Server - setup a config on any PC the way you want it then sync it to your server (UNC path). This is the config that will be synched to each client PC.
2. Sync from Server - on each client PC that you wish to use the central config, you can sync it automatically s when My Films starts, or manually in Setup

You only need to set up central config synching once!

Sync to Server

First create a Config using the Setup Wizard, and customize any Config settings you wish.  Don't worry you can easily make changes and re-sync them to the server again later.

Press the button "Central Config" in setup:

You will see the dialog for setup.

1. Choose a path to your central config (usually UNC path to the server or NAS which will sync to all Client PCs.
2. For first time setup, you must "upload" your current local config with the "Sync to Server" button (if you don't MyFilms will tell you...).

Sync from Server

On each client PC you wish to sync (including the PC you used to ' Sync to Server')":

1. Check "Enable automatic Sync from Server on [My Films] Startup":

Note: You can also use the Sync from Server button to manually sync a config once and then customize that config for that PC. This aids in setting up multiple PCs in your network, even if you do not wish to sync a central config on them all.

When you quit the dialog, the "Central Config" button will turn to "green", indicating  that this PC is using a central config from server. All other setup options are disabled.

If you later decide to use a local config, just uncheck the "Enable automatic Sync from Server on Startup" - that will disable the sync and allow you to modify and use a local config/settings for My Films.

Note: If you add a new client and have already a properly working network setup, you don't need to configure your client locally - just once enter "Central Config", enter path to central config and enable the "Enable automatic Sync from Server on Startup".

Edit a Central Config

You may edit your central config from any Client PC that syncs it.

1. Press the '*Sync from Serve*r' button to ensure you have the latest version on the client PC
2. Disable "Automatic Sync from Server on Startup" to be able to make changes
3. Once you have made the changes you wish, press the Sync to Server button to  "upload" it again
4. re-enable the "Enable automatic Sync from Server on Startup" option.

The changes will automatically be synced to all client PCs that have automatic synching enabled.

Famous last words ...

Although, it is obvious, be warned that enabling the central config sync option will overwrite your local config - so if you want to keep it, take a backup first.

Related

• Network Setup