Posts Tagged ‘directory services’

Font Server Replication: Smart and Simple

Monday, May 16th, 2011

A font server addresses serious compliance, control and consistency issues for users on your local network, but what if you have users spread across multiple cities or continents? FontAgent Pro Server’s replication solution is just the ticket. It enables organizations to establish redundant, replicated font servers across their enterprise so users can enjoy top performance as administrators distribute server load. Administrators make changes to a master font server that replicates the changes automatically and transparently to all remote servers.

Simple Installation, Configuration and Administration

FontAgent Pro Server replication services are simple to set up. Installing the central or master server requires no special configuration, and installing a replicated or slave server requires an IP address or a dedicated domain name and authentication information. Once the servers are configured, the replication process happens at regular five-minute intervals automatically. The slave server is an exact mirror copy of the master and serves users on its local network.

To configure FontAgent Pro Server to be a master server you simply enter the replication license key you receive when you purchase a replication server license. You then point any slave servers to the master and ensure that you have access through any firewalls that might exist in your organization between the two servers. It’s that simple.

Network Performance Considerations

If the network connection between the master and slave servers is less than optimal, FontAgent Pro Server allows you to easily change the default size of the data packets it moves across your connection. By default, FontAgent Pro Server moves data in four-megabyte packets for fastest performance, but you can change the packet size to be as small as 256 kilobytes for slow network connections.

Automatic Directory Synchronization

FontAgent Pro Server replicates users, groups and other directory information automatically when replicated slave servers sync with the centrally maintained master server. So after setting up directory services links on the master with a few clicks, directory data synchronizes securely and automatically.

Failover Services Keep Users Connected

FontAgent Pro also provides failover services that allow end users to connect automatically to alternate servers when their primary font server is unavailable, so their workflow and font updates continue uninterrupted. Combined with FontAgent Pro’s server replication, these failover services make FontAgent Pro Server a clear choice in multi-server environments.

Easy Sailing after Setup

So that’s it. Once you’ve set up FontAgent Pro Server replication, all you need to do is maintain the master server and the rest of your font servers remain in sync automatically. It’s that simple… and that smart.

Get Control of Your Fonts Now

For more information on how Insider can help your font management challenges, or for a free 30-day trial of Insider products, please visit
 www.insidersoftware.com or contact us.

Font Server Adds Live Reporting, Backup and Auto-Failover

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

We’re very proud to announce FontAgent® Pro™ Server 4, which includes live font-usage tracking, live backup, automatic failover, and enhanced directory and security services. The new capabilities increase its sizable lead as the best font server for agencies, departments and enterprises.

Real-Time Font-Usage Manager
FontAgent Pro Server 4 now tracks font distribution and usage in real-time–an industry first. It shows which users have access to libraries and fonts, and when they activate and deactivate them. You can even use your favorite scripting language to export usage data into various file formats, and then use Excel, report scripts or asset managers to analyze and report on font usage and ensure compliance with font-license agreements–and be prepared for licensing audits at any time!

Live Font Server Backup
We’ve also added live backup services to FontAgent Pro Server 4. It backs up its fonts, users and groups without locking out users… something Extensis UTS doesn’t do. Better yet, you can restore a server to a previous state with just a few clicks. The backup manager lets you set the backup times, and you can also add font-server archiving into your existing backup scripts. Another important point: you can backup your font database to any networked drive–again unlike Extensis, which seems to force backup to only local drives, a practice which at best seems dangerous.

Failover Services Add to Lead in Multi-Server Environments
FontAgent Pro clients now include failover services that allow them to automatically connect to alternative servers when their primary font server is unavailable. Used in conjunction with FontAgent Pro’s server replication, these failover services make FontAgent Pro the clear choice in multi-server environments.

Enhanced Directory Services, Security and Permissions
We’ve also added faster Active Directory, Open Directory and LDAP synchronization to FontAgent Pro Server 4, along with improved support for nested groups, standalone users, keychain-based password protection and non-standard directory schemas. You can now identify group and font administrators who can upload fonts, create users and groups, edit licenses, upload and edit sets, upload and edit font libraries, assign fonts and users to groups and view font usage information–and allow IT administrators to maintain control of the font server itself.

Kerberos Single-Sign-on Support
Using Kerberos in your organization? FontAgent Pro clients now check if users have previously logged in via Kerberos. If so, they are automatically authenticated to FontAgent Pro Server. If not, FontAgent Pro asks them to enter their username and password. It’s that easy.

For More Information
We’re excited about FontAgent Pro Server 4, and we hope you are as well. If you have questions or would like more information, just let us know. We’ll get you the Inside Scoop.