Table of contents

  1. What is synctool

  2. Installation
    2.1 Installation dependencies
    2.2 Passwordless SSH
    2.3 Installing the software
    2.4 synctool configuration: nodes and groups
    2.5 Testing with dsh
    2.6 Your first synctool run
    2.7 Client installation

  3. Using synctool
    3.1 Populating the repository
    3.2 Adding actions to updates
    3.3 Other useful options
    3.4 Templates
    3.5 Purge directories
    3.6 The order of operations
    3.7 dsh-pkg, the synctool package manager
    3.8 Ignoring them: I’m not touching you
    3.9 Backup copies
    3.10 Logging
    3.11 About symbolic links
    3.12 Slow updates
    3.13 Checking for updates
    3.14 Running tasks with synctool
    3.15 Multiplexed connections

  4. All configuration parameters explained

  5. Best practices
    5.1 Use logical group names
    5.2 Future planning: Be mindful of group ‘all’
    5.3 Use group extensions on directories sparingly
    5.4 Do not manage the master node
    5.5 Managing multiple clusters with one synctool
    5.6 Use a tiered setup for large clusters
    5.7 Manage hosts behind a gateway

  6. Migrating to synctool 6
    6.1 Installing synctool 6
    6.2 Configuring synctool 6
    6.3 Updating the repository
    6.4 Updating templates
    6.5 Wrapping up

  7. Thank you
    7.1 Fun facts