So, so, so many ways to install Syncplify Server! V6

While Syncplify.me Server! v1 through v5 has always been a Windows-only software, thus coming with a single Windows-only installer, our new Syncplify Server! v6 will come with a variety of installation options:

The traditional Windows GUI Installer

This one requires no explanation. It’s the common way to install most software on Windows: a graphical “wizard” that guides the user through the process of deploying a software onto their operating system.

Syncplify Server! V6 – Windows GUI Installer in action

The only addition to the usual GUI experience is that this installer can be run with the /SILENT or /VERYSILENT command line parameters, to reduce or completely eliminate the graphical aspect of it (sometimes useful for automated deployments).

The cross-platform CLI (command-line interface) Installer

A 100% new addition to Syncplify Server!’s installation systems will be the CLI Installer. This one is to be run at command-line, and doesn’t have any graphical user interface, it provides all of its feedback in the Terminal (bash, fish, zsh, CMD, PowerShell, …).

Syncplify Server! V6 – CLI Installer in action

This CLI Installer is actually more sophisticated than the GUI one. In fact, not only it supports both Windows and Linux, but it is absolutely ideal for unattended/automated deployment, given that:

  • it can run with 5 different log detail settings (including a totally silent mode)
  • it can deploy the software from a local source (no Internet access) or always download the latest version from our servers at install-time
  • it can be easily integrated within various package management solutions
Installing via package managers

Package managers used to be a Linux-only prerogative until not long ago. Now Windows has a variety of package managers as well: Chocolatey is probably the most famous one, but recently Microsoft has introduced WinGet (Windows’ official package manager).

Given the course that software installations are taking, across all operating systems, it goes by itself that we had to add support for these package managers. So, yes, once Syncplify Server! v6 is released, you will find it in Chocolatey’s and WinGet’s repositories, as well as others to be announced as they are added to our list of officially supported ones.


V6 silent and/or automated installation (Windows version)

One feature that our customers have been asking for rather frequently is the ability to deploy Syncplify Server! with a certain degree of automation. It would be nice and useful, in fact, to be able to install the software, configure it, create some VFSs and users (etc…) all with a single command-line.

Well, Syncplify Server! v6’s installer will allow you to do just that.

The first step is to have your “master deployment” of Syncplify Server! somewhere, maybe on a test/dev server, so that you can create your configuration, VFSs, users (etc…) visually in the web UI. Then take a full backup via the built-in backup function in the SuperAdmin UI.

Once you have a backup file, installing a new Syncplify Server! machine/node with an identical configuration is just a matter of running the installer with the appropriate command line. Here’s an example:

.\ss6-setup.exe /saname="sa" /sapass="XXXXXXXX" /nodename="some-node" /bakfile="C:\mybak.zip"

The only details that are not extracted from your backup are the node’s name (of course, you’re installing a new machine after all) and username/password for a SuperAdmin profile, to make sure you can access your SuperAdmin web UI once the setup is done.

And if you’re running a “core” version of your Windows (without a desktop experience)? No worries, we got you covered. Just add /verysilent to the command-line:

.\ss6-setup.exe /saname="sa" /sapass="XXXXXXXX" /nodename="some-node" /bakfile="C:\mybak.zip" /verysilent

Of course the /verysilent command-line option can be used also for fresh/blank installations, without necessarily having to initialize the software from an existing backup:

.\ss6-setup.exe /verysilent

This should cover most of the frequently required cases. 🙂