Overview
File Metadata is additional information or attributes stored as part of the file. File Metadata can be broken down into two main components:
| 1. | File Attributes: Attributes such as read-only, hidden, archive bit, search index, etc. |
| 2. | Security Descriptor Information: This is comprised of attributes such as DACLs, SACLs, Owner, Group, ACLs, etc. |
You can enable synchronization of file attributes and security descriptors independently, but in general, it is recommended that you do not synchronize file attributes since the archive bit of a file is constantly changing and this results in excess and mostly unnecessary synchronization work.
By default, enabling file metadata synchronization (for either file attributes or security descriptors) will cause any real-time modifications of metadata to be synchronized with all other target hosts, however, this alone will not enable synchronizing file metadata during the initial synchronization process. In order to enable file metadata synchronization during the initial synchronization process, you must enable this option and select a MASTER host to use as the conflict winner.
File Metadata Conflict Resolution
File metadata conflict resolution will only occur the first time a file is synchronized during the initial scan, and only when one or more security descriptors and/or file attributes do not match the designated master host. If the file does not exist on the designated master host, then no conflict resolution will be performed. If a master host is not selected, then no file metadata synchronization will be performed during the initial scan.
Below is a list of file metadata synchronization options along with their descriptions:
Enable synchronizing file attributes |
If this feature is checked, real-time file attributes (e.g. read-only, archive bit, hidden, etc) changes will be synchronized to the target host file(s). |
Enable synchronizing file attributes with master host during initial scan. |
If this feature is checked, file attributes (e.g. read-only, archive bit, hidden, etc) will be synchronized with master host during the initial scan and synchronization process. A valid master host must be selected. |
Enable synchronizing NTFS security descriptors (ACLs) in real-time and during initial scan. |
If this feature is checked, the congifured security descriptor components (e.g. DACL, SACL, Owner, etc.) changes will be transferred to the target host file(s), as well as synchronized during the intial scan (if a Master Host is selected). |
Enable prevention of corrupt or blank Owner or DACLs. |
If checked, then corrupt or blank Owner or DACLs on source or master host will not be applied on any target host file. |
Synchronize Security Descriptor Options |
You can select which security descriptor components are synchronized. Choices are DACL, SACL and Owner. In general, you will usually only need to synchronize DACLs. If you need to synchronize SACLs or Owner, then the user that FolderMaestro Agent service is run under must have permission to read and write SACLs and Owner. |
Master Host |
The master host to use for conflict resolution during the initial synchronization process. |