Manage Replication

Replication is the process of copying data from one server to another server usually located in two different physical locations. This process allows the setup of a Vault environment which has two different locations and users will not have to spend time downloading large CAD files across their Wide Area Network (WAN) connection.

The connected workgroups feature supports the use of multiple database servers using Microsoft SQL Publisher/Subscriber technology. This technology allows the replication of the SQL database at multiple locations.

Note: Data replication is available only in a multi-site environment. Replicate data prior to creating a back up.

The SQL database tracks which files and versions are at each site in a multi-site environment. Each site can be synchronized so that newer files and newer versions are shared across sites. Individual vaults can be replicated, or all of the enabled vaults on a site can be replicated. Replication can also be scheduled. By default, replication is set for 12:00 AM (midnight) each weekday when a vault is enabled.

Release Availability

The Replication feature is available in certain editions of Vault. Refer to the following table to see if your edition supports this feature.
  2012 2013 2014
Autodesk Vault Basic    
Autodesk Vault Workgroup    
Autodesk Vault Collaboration
Autodesk Vault Professional

Replicate Files and Folders

Folder and file replication can be accessed from the Autodesk Data Management Server console navigation pane.

Note: You can also replicate files and folders from the Replication Schedule dialog box. From the Replication Schedule dialog box click the Replicated Folders button.

Use the following steps to access the folder and file replication dialog box from the Autodesk Data Management Server console.

  1. In the navigation pane select, the workgroup of the vault to be replicated.
  2. In the right pane right-click the vault to replicate and select Replicated Folders.
  3. By default all folders will be checked. Uncheck any folders which do not need to be replicated. Check folders which need to be replicated.

Right click to check all, uncheck all, expand all, or collapse all.

Note: This feature only controls which files will be replicated from the file store and not the meta data about the files. Regardless of what is selected, all meta data is replicated to the subscriber sites. If you want to limit visibility of meta data, you need to apply the proper security on the folders and files.

Replicate a Vault

Enter Replication Credentials

  1. Enter the user account name of the replication account on the subscriber. This account has access to the common folder and does not require logging when accessing the common folder.
  2. Enter the replication user account password.
  3. Confirm the replication account password
  4. Click OK.

    5. If the subscriber computer is in a different domain and/or the replication account is local, you will get a warning message about not being able to validate the password. Select Yes to continue.

Replicate Vault Data

  1. In the navigation pane, expand the Workgroups node.
  2. Expand the correct workgroup node.
  3. Expand the correct site node.
  4. Select a vault located on the current site from the list.
  5. Right-click the site, and then select the replication option:
    • Replicate Now to synchronize all of the vaults on the current site immediately.
    • Replicate Folders to select which folders and files to replicate.
    • See Folder and File Replication for details.
    • Replication Schedule to establish a synchronization schedule or to turn off scheduled synchronization.

Manage Workgroup Replication

Enable Workgroup Replication

    To create a connected workgroup environment workgroup replication must be enabled. Workgroup replication must be enabled from the publisher site before installing the subscriber sites.

  1. Use Windows Explore to create a network shared folder.
  2. In the navigation pane, select Workgroups.
  3. Right-click and select Enabled Workgroup Replication.
  4. Enter the path to the network shared folder.
  5. Enter the user account setup to run replication. This account should have access to the network shared folder.
  6. Enter and confirm the password for the replication account.

Disable Workgroup Replication

    To discontinue the use of a connected workgroup environment workgroup replication must be disabled. Before disabling workgroup replication, all workgroups must be deleted.

  1. In the navigation pane, select Workgroups.
  2. Right-click and select Disable Workgroup Replication.
  3. If the subscribing sites have not been deleted check the box to delete the subscribing sites.
  4. Click OK.

Configure Workgroup Replication

    Once a workgroup has been added to the Connected Workgroup environment each vault in the new workgroup has to be configured to replicate. Only vaults selected to replicate from one workgroup will be accessible from a different workgroup.

  1. In the navigation pane select the workgroup of the Vault to be replicated.
  2. In the right pane right-click the Vault to replicate and select Manage Replication.
  3. Use the Add (>>) and Remove (<<) buttons to select which workgroups to replicate the Vault.
  4. Click OK.

View Workgroup Replication Status

View Workgroup Replication Details

Manage Replication Priority

Replication Priority allows you to setup a preferred list of Sites or a selected Site for file replication. With Replication priority, you can prioritize Sites within the preferred Sites list.

Once Replication Priority has been setup for a Site, any subsequent file replication (both on-demand and scheduled) uses the preferred list of Sites.

Configure Replication Priority

  1. On the Server Console, select a Site by expanding the Workgroups node and then by expanding the workgroup the Site is in.
  2. Right-click on the site and select Manage Replication Priority.
  3. On the Manage Replication Priority dialog, add Sites to the Prioritized section by using the Add button.
  4. Prioritize Sites in the Prioritized section by using the Move Up and Move Down buttons.
  5. Click OK to save your changes.
Note: By default, there are no preferred Sites for any Site. In other words, for every site, the rest of the Sites in the environment appear in the Not Prioritized section by default.

Among the Sites that are in the Prioritized section, the one at the top of the list is the most preferred Site and the one at bottom of the list is the least preferred Site. If a file is not available at the most preferred Site or if that Site cannot be reached for some reason, the Site that is next in the list is approached for replication of the file. If none of the Sites in the Prioritized section have the file or cannot be reached for some reason, a site from the Not Replicated section is selected at random.

Replication Priority for a Site can be set up from any Site. It is not necessary to log into a Site to set up Replication Priority for that Site.

Note: When working in a Connected Workgroups environment, Ownership for administrative objects is needed to make changes to Replication Priority.

The preferred list for a Site can be quickly viewed in the Replication Priority table on the right by highlighting the Site under the Workgroups node.

Export/Import Replication Priority

Replication Priorities for all Sites can be exported to an XML file which can then be edited in a text editor and imported back into Vault.

Export Replication Priorities…

Export Replication Priorities

  1. In the Server Console, right-click on the Workgroups node and select Export Replication Priorities.
  2. Select a location, enter a name on the Save dialog, and click Save.
  3. Click OK on the confirmation dialog.
  4. Open the XML file in a text editor.
  5. Set up Replication Priority by editing the XML file and saving your changes.

Import Replication Priorities…

Import Replication Priorities

  1. In the Server Console, right-click on the Workgroup node and select Import Replication Priorities.
  2. Browse to where the XML file with the Replication Priority is located.
  3. Select the file and click Open.
  4. Click OK on the confirmation dialog.
  5. Validate the import by selecting each Site under the Workgroup node and viewing the Site's Replication Priority table.

Schedule Replication for a Multi-Site Environment

Note: Data replication is available only in a multi-site environment. Replicate data prior to creating a back up.

Data replication can be scheduled to occur daily or at a specified intervals. By default, replication is set for 12:00 AM (midnight) each weekday when a vault is enabled.

  1. In the navigation pane, expand the workgroup node.
  2. Select the workgroup you want to work with.
  3. Select the appropriate site
  4. Right-click on the Vault, and then select Replication Schedule.
  5. In the Scheduled Replication dialog box, select the Enable scheduled replication check box.
  6. Choose either a daily schedule or a replication frequency.
    • Daily: The default daily replication schedule is weekdays at midnight. Specify a start time and select which days to perform the replication.
    • Frequency: Specify a start time and then select how often the replication is performed.
  7. Click OK.
Topics in this section
Parent topic: Vault Server Administration Tasks

Related Concepts

Related Information