360Works NEW Major Version: MirrorSync 5 Now Available

[360Works]

New Major Version Release:
MirrorSync 5!

360Works, is proud to announce MirrorSync 5, a new major version of the easy-to-use data replication tool that quickly and seamlessly syncs an offline database running on FileMaker Go or FileMaker Pro with a database hosted by FileMaker Server and syncs various configurations of SQL databases. MirrorSync 5 will greatly improve convenience for your end users by making the sync process faster and more secure. We have added features to improve the initial sync making all subsequent syncs more seamless and we have reduced the amount of password requests needed to access the database for syncing. Additionally, there have been over 40 new improvements made to enhance reliability, speed, and stability overall!

Powerful New Features Added:

Faster Speeds: Run the Initial Sync on the Server
With large databases, initial syncs can take a long time when filtering a subset of records for each user. MirrorSync 5 now has a feature to drastically improve this initial sync time, by hosting a temporary copy of the file on FileMaker Server, running the initial sync entirely on the server, and sending the pre-synced file to the user's iPad, laptop, or iPhone. The performance improvement is especially noticeable when syncing with filtered record sets for large databases, and syncing over cellular networks. If you are syncing a custom/personalized set of records from a table with more than 10,000 records, this update is critical for improving the speed of your syncs.

During our testing, we found that initial syncs are now 3 times faster. For example, doing an initial sync of 10,000 records into an empty clone on an iPad Mini over WiFI took 9:13 using traditional client-side initial sync, and 3:43 using the new server-side initial sync feature of MirrorSync 5.

More Convenient: Encrypts and Remembers User Passwords
MirrorSync will now remember user passwords, so that they don't need to be re-entered on each sync after an offline file is opened. It encrypts and saves the initial password on the MirrorSync server, preventing users from repetitively entering their passwords for better security and end user convenience. If the password is changed on the server file, the user will be re-prompted for a new password. If you've been using a shared password for all users to avoid the hassle of password double-entry, you can now switch to the more secure option to use individual accounts, without making extra work for your users.

More Reliable: New Sync Auditing Feature to Monitor Sync Progress
We have added an advanced notifications feature in MirrorSync 5, which posts CloudWatch metrics and SNS notifications when a sync completes or fails. While this feature is optional and can be turned on or off, it is very beneficial for those who wish to receive updates on sync statistics or receive alarms for sync behaviors (e.g. number of records inserted, sync duration, number of sync warnings). You will need an AWS account to use this feature.

Improvements for MirrorSync Hosting Providers
Log files are now separated by the MirrorSync application name. This is important for hosting providers to be able to see each customers log files separately.

New Support for Syncing with DynamoDB, the Back-end Database of Amazon.com
We have added support for syncing with DynamoDB, a database under Amazon Web Services that is simple, serverless, scalable, and provides low-latency data access. DynamoDB is used by Amazon with their retail site (Amazon.com) where it handles 13.9 million requests per second! Give us a call if you'd like to hear more about how we synced a government FileMaker solution with DynamoDB to handle huge web traffic loads.

More Convenient with FileMaker Server 17
If you are considering switching to FileMaker Server 17, now is the perfect time. MirrorSync will now automatically enable XML Web Publishing on FileMaker Server 17, so that you don't have to do in the command line or data API.

There are over 40 new improvements in MirrorSync 5, giving you more unbelievable new ways to do the unSYNCable! See the complete changelog here.

MirrorSync Map: Speed and Reliability

We analyzed a month of syncing data to show its speed and reliability. The following map shows MirrorSync users who performed syncs in 45 countries around the world across different cities and countries (does not include installations with statistics gathering disabled).

• 99.4% of 269,000 Syncs completed with no errors
• 133,465 FileMaker Server to MySQL Syncs with a median sync time of 5.3 seconds
• 79,961 FileMaker Server to FileMaker Server Syncs with a median sync time of 12.4 seconds
• 27,085 FileMaker Server to FileMaker Pro/Go Syncs with a median sync time of 22.9 seconds
• 19,249 FileMaker Server to DynamoDB Syncs with a median sync time of 20.5 seconds
• 14,279 FileMaker Server to other SQL Databases with a median sync time of 65.3 seconds
• Longest sync distance of 1,184 Miles

Licensing and Hosting

You can download MirrorSync 5 instantly and start syncing with the new improvements. MirrorSync 5 is compatible with MirrorSync 4 offline files - no need to reset sync data or recreate configurations (although some new features, like password saving, will not function until the script is updated).

Active maintenance subscribers for MirrorSync or the 360Works Portfolio Bundle will receive the new major version 5 at no additional cost.

We are also pleased to announce that we offer hosting services for MirrorSync for the low price of $29 per month. This is included free of charge for customers hosting FileMaker Server with us. Contact us to find out more and get started!

For adding new devices onto a MirrorSync license, prices range from $40-$95 per device depending on the quantity of devices ordered. With our 2018 FileMaker DevCon Discount, you can take 15% off of your order by using promo code DEVCON18 at checkout, now through August 10, 2018. If you are attending the FileMaker Developer Conference this year, please visit us at our booth and we would be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Never tried MirrorSync? You can download a free license which allows for syncing between FileMaker Pro or FileMaker Go with FileMaker Server for one device. Sync an offline database with the hosted server file, completely free of charge.

Try or Buy MirrorSync 5

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[Izan]

Great!

We just moved to your first update after the Mirrorsync 5 initial release, hoping to have seamless integration while growing our database.

We have a growing database currently just under 400mb, i would like to do a compacted copy to make/keep the database more streamline..

Firstly, what would be the correct procedure to do this and what other things can I do to keep everything streamlined?

 

My idea of making a compacted copy:

1. Stop Filemaker Database on server

2. Backup Database

3. Open Database with FMP/Advanced and save a copy as "Compacted Copy" back into the database folder(Overwriting the old file)

4. Start Server

 

Is there something im missing here?  Im just very unsure what would be happening to the Mirrorsync scripts?

 

 

[ryan360Works]

Hi Izan,

Saving a compacted copy shouldn't have any impact on MirrorSync as none of the schema is changing. If you do change any of the schema that has already been set up with a sync, you will need to go back through your configuration, re-copy the script steps, and redistribute offline files. 

As an aside, we do have our own product support forum as a part of FMForums. Those can found here.  In that section there is an MirrorSync sub-forum where you can post your MirrorSync questions. In the future, I recommend posting there so it will be more visible to both 360Works and other MirrorSync users. You can also reach out to us directly by emailing [email protected] which will create an official support case for you. Please let us know if you have any questions!